European Biopharmaceutical Review |
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Editor’s Letter
Deborah O’Neil contemplates the need for strategies to combat infectious diseases, regardless of the affected region, as well as looking at a number of this edition’s features.
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In Vitro Testing
Super Models
Kirkstall’s J Malcolm Wilkinson and Kelly S Davidge examine in vitro alternatives to animal testing. Although generally restricted to niche uses in academia, these more representative and complex models could one day be utilised in commercial drug development.
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Substance Identification
Compound X
Extractable compounds can be hard to identify, with investigations often proving time-consuming and expensive. Silvia Scotti, Simone Carrara and Marco Giulio Rozio at Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing Italy consider the need for a more systematic approach and extractables database.
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Drug Repositioning
Same Drug: New Purpose
Repositioning has been used to speed up productivity issues in current drug development and address unmet patient needs. José Manuel Mas and Judith Farrés from Anaxomics take us through a few key approaches.
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Substance Repurposing
Lease of Life
Re-Pharm’s Robert Scoffin and Alan Rothaul explain how combining pharmacological expertise and computational chemistry tools can help to identify new activity for existing compounds.
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Orthogonal Techniques
It’s a Small World
Regulatory authorities have voiced concern over the safety and efficacy of therapeutic protein products, calling for greater monitoring of subvisible particles. Amber Fradkin of KBI Biopharma outlines the different characterisation techniques firms can utilise to meet mounting requirements.
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In Brief
In the Lead
Industry advisor Emile Bellott examines the biosimilar market, noting the enthusiasm of European and Asian regulators, as well as commenting on what the future holds for the US.
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Antibody Therapeutics
Hard to Resist
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are increasingly developing antibody therapies to cash in on the success of drugs like Humira and Remicade. MRC Technology’s Michael Dalrymple muses on this growing sector.
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Industry Interview
Target Market
Speaking to EBR, PharmaAfrica’s Miles Mudzviti urges pharma to start considering the African market. With rising health investment and growing consumerism, the time is now to begin investing.
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Regional Focus
Out of Africa
A continent of largely untapped potential, Africa could provide the perfect opportunity for pharma companies looking to expand their global reach. EBR’s Emma Naks reports on the risks and rewards of expanding into this emerging region.
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Cancer Stem Cells
Stemming the Tide
Axis BioServices’ Jenny Worthington reflects on one of the hot topics in oncology – cancer stem cells. Although they make up just a small proportion of tumour mass, their resistance to current therapies demands further study into their behaviour.
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Anti-Cancer Drug Delivery
Hitting the Mark
Research into cell biology has uncovered new ways of targeting specific drugs to reach cancer cells – improving patient outcomes and reducing side-effects. Aidan Seeley and Heather M Wallace at the University of Aberdeen go into more detail.
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Stem Cell Research
Under Investigation
Regina Au at BioMarketing Insight comments on the recent breakthroughs in stem cell research and discusses their many applications across cancer therapeutics, drug development and transplantations.
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Spotlight on Malaria
Biting Back
Responsible for over 500,000 deaths each year, malaria remains a force to be reckoned with. John Haselden of GlaxoSmithKline talks about the de novo combination treatments needed to eradicate the disease and prevent the emergence of resistance.
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Precision Medicine
Hand-in-Hand
Kenneth Butz and Holly Hilton of PPD reveal how novel trial designs – as well as the simultaneous introduction of targeted therapies and in vitro companion diagnostic devices – can hasten advances in precision medicine.
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Companion Diagnostics
Testing Patients
Autoimmune diseases – such as lupus – remain difficult to treat. Protagen’s Petra Budde and Peter Schulz-Knappe hope that pharma will respond by aligning companion diagnostic development with clinical programmes.
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Epigenetics
New Direction
Ewelina Kulikowski at Resverlogix Corp suggests that BET inhibition – which can impact upon many different biologies – could demonstrate potential as a novel, epigenetic approach to treating a variety of illnesses.
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