SelectScience
Join Free
Accelerating Science
NewsLife Sciences

The Future of Technology Transfer in the Biopharmaceuticals Industry

SelectScience

SelectScience® spoke to SLAS2016 Special Interest Group Chair, Dr Raymond Price

11 Mar 2016
Sarah Thomas
Associate Editor

Editorial article

An update on this year's SLAS Technology Transfer and CRO/CMO Project Management Special Interest Group event

Each year the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) runs a series of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that enable scientists to meet with peers face-to-face to discuss a range of important issues. SelectScience® spoke to the co-chair of this year’s Technology Transfer and CRO/CMO Project Management SIG, Dr Raymond Price, to get a flavour of the topics discussed in this group and how they may influence the future of technology transfer in the biopharmaceuticals industry.

Dr Price is a Senior Director of Business Development at DiscoverX, an innovative company that both manufactures biochemical and cell based assays and provides screening services to help accelerate drug discovery and development.

Dr Raymond Price, SLAS Technology Transfer and CRO/CMO Project Management Special Interest Group Co-Chair

This year Dr Price co-chaired the Technology Transfer and CRO/CMO Project Management Special Interest Group with Liming Shi of Eli Lilly. Together, they provide a perspective of both the service and large pharma industries to help collate best practices and understand how companies can successfully manage projects through the use of contract research organizations (CRO) or contract manufacturing organizations (CMO). “The goal of the group is to bring together individuals with disparate roles and functions from services, biopharmaceutical companies, biotechs, virtual companies and universities” Dr Price explained, with many coming from academic technology transfer offices. This is particularly important as both companies and universities look to increase throughput and free up resources to accelerate clinical timelines.

“We actually spent most of the time this year talking about a model called insourcing” Dr Price explained. The insourcing model of project management involves hiring an outside company and scientists to come in and run routine assays on-site – saving money and freeing up the hiring company’s own research scientists’ time to develop innovative assays.

The session involved both a talk from a guest speaker and round table discussion about the benefits and complexities of insourcing. The engaged audience covered important issues such as best practices for intellectual property, agreements between organizations, decisions of what should be outsourced, equipment access and purchasing, assay problems, and access to researchers. Dr Price commented on the success of this format as a “compelling way to explore new models with the chance to hear about other people’s experiences”.

Dr Price noted that the session gave individuals from all backgrounds “a better appreciation for the considerations involved in using the insourcing model”, by highlighting important factors that must be addressed. Dr Price in particular, left this thought-provoking session with questions about how this could be implemented in the service industry.

This may be of particular importance for future research as DiscoverX looks to further focus on immuno-oncology. New products and services, include an extensive portfolio for immunomodulatory receptors, interleukins and cell based assays to detect inflammatory immune response in primary cell or tumor microenvironment models.

For more information and resources on technology transfer in the biopharmaceuticals industry, visit the Technology Transfer and CRO/CMO Project Management SLAS Special Interest Group LinkedIn group.

Visit the the SelectScience SLAS2016 Special Feature for more news from the conference.

Image: jovan vitanovski/Shutterstock

Links

SelectScienceCompany website

Tags

Cell Adhesion AssaysCell adhesion assays are used to quantitate attachment and analyze the molecular mechanisms for extracellular matrix adhesion, cell migration and sensitivity to inhibitors. Find the best cell adhesion assay equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.High-Throughput ScreeningHigh-throughput screening (HTS) is an automated drug discovery technique for identification of active compounds against a compound library. Use HTS readers and integrated assay preparation / analysis workstations to screen your compounds. Identify active compounds against various HTS libraries, including membranes, proteins and peptides and HTS cell lines. Find the best high-throughput screening products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell Lines Stem Cells and Primary CellsPrimary cell cultures, established cell lines and stem cells are vital for <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> experimentation. High-quality cells, optimized for your applications, alongside optimized cell substrates, growth medium and supplements, are critical for experimental success. Explore a range of cells suitable for your applications, including isogenic cell lines, competent cells, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell lines, fungal/bacterial/mammalian cell lines, stem cells and cancer cell lines. Find the best cells for your research in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Microplate Readers / DetectorsMicroplate readers are used to automate the detection and analysis of labeled or label-free components in microplates during assays or live-cell monitoring. Microplate readers are generally distinguished by their mode of detection. Types include absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, TRF / FRET and multimode microplate readers. Microplate readers deliver a high throughput of samples by reading multiple wells simultaneously, with the 96-well format the most commonly used. As a result, microplate readers are often used in the drug discovery, bioassays, research and pharmaceutical industries for screening applications. Microplate loading can also be automated, with robotic microplate stackers to increase throughput. Find the best microplate readers in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.High-Content ScreeningHigh-content screening (HCS), also known as high-content analysis (HCA), is a high-throughput technique used in drug discovery to identify substances that alter the phenotype of cells. HCS uses fluorescent microscopic imaging and automated image analysis to investigate cellular events such as apoptosis, cell viability, GPCR activation, oxide production, neurite outgrowth, and cell signaling. Find the best fluorescent labeling reagents, cellular assays, and high-content imaging systems in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Compound AnalysisCompound analysis is used to discover specific compounds that could be promising candidates for pharmaceutical use. This potential is identified when compounds have the desired effect, such as interaction with a target protein, during high throughput screening.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.CRO ServicesExplore the comprehensive range of services offered by Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to streamline drug development and clinical research. From preclinical studies to regulatory support and clinical trials, CROs provide expert solutions that help pharmaceutical and biotech companies bring products to market faster and more efficiently.SLASThe Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) is an organization focused on laboratory automation, high-throughput screening, and biotechnology innovation. SLAS promotes scientific advancements through conferences, publications, and industry collaborations. Cancer CellsCancer cells are abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably, leading to the formation of tumors and the spread of cancer. Studying cancer cells is crucial for developing new treatments and understanding tumor biology. Explore cancer cell research products in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.BiopharmaceuticalsBiopharmaceuticals are proteins and other compounds (such as nucleic acids) produced by living organisms that have uses as therapeutics or for in vivo diagnostics. The most well known example of a biopharmaceutical product, and the first to be approved for therapeutic use, was recombinant human insulin.Drug DiscoveryDrug discovery is the process of identifying potential new medications, involving stages such as target identification, compound screening, and preclinical development. It relies on cutting-edge technologies like high-throughput screening, artificial intelligence, and molecular modeling to accelerate the identification of drug candidates. Drug discovery plays a pivotal role in developing new therapies for diseases ranging from cancer to rare genetic disorders. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find the latest drug discovery technologies, compare options, check customer feedback, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Cell Based AssaysCell-based assays use living cells to measure biological responses to various treatments or stimuli. They are essential for drug discovery, toxicology testing, and understanding cellular mechanisms. These assays are used to assess cell viability, proliferation, gene expression, and other cellular activities. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find the best cell-based assay tools and reagents, compare products, read customer reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.

Related articles

The Future of Technology Transfer in the Biopharmaceuticals Industry