Cyprotex PLC (AIM:CRX; www.cyprotex.com), a specialist ADME-Tox Contract Research Organisation (CRO), today announces the expansion of its toxicology capabilities to include high content 3D tissue analysis and advanced mitochondrial toxicity analysis.
The introduction of these capabilities at Cyprotex follows the purchase of new instruments including a Thermo Scientific ArrayScanTM XTI high content screening (HCS) platform and a Seahorse XFe extracellular flux analyser. The investment in these technologies will allow Cyprotex to provide greater specialisation in key areas of interest in the field of toxicology and also enable the Company to expand into pharmacological efficacy research (e.g., cancer and cardiovascular models), which will unlock potential from new segments of the pharmaceutical market.
3D tissue models are becoming increasingly important in the field of pharmaceutical and cosmetics research and product development. Within the cosmetics field, 3D skin models are now approved by the regulatory authorities as in vitro alternatives to animal testing. These include MatTek’s EpiDermTM model which is offered by Cyprotex for skin irritation, skin corrosion and skin sensitisation testing. The characteristics of these 3D tissue models are more relevant to the in vivo situation than 2D models, and as their complexity evolves (e.g., using stem cells and/or co-culture models) these models will become more predictive, and ultimately, a critical tool in toxicological research. The ArrayScanTM XTI HCS platform houses a confocal microscope enabling high quality imaging of 3D cellular structures and is complementary to the Cyprotex offering. By investing in this technology Cyprotex maintains its position at the forefront of scientific research in this field.
Changes in mitochondrial function play a role in the cause of many disease conditions and are a key mechanism in drug induced toxicity. The Seahorse XFe platform monitors two major energy producing pathways of the cell which are linked to mitochondrial function. The introduction of this service provides new opportunities in multiple areas of research.
Dr Anthony Baxter, Cyprotex’s Chief Executive Officer, comments on the expansion of the toxicology facility:
“Understanding the mechanisms of toxicology of new therapeutics remains a challenging area. Cyprotex is committed to research in this field to help our clients bring safer drugs to the market. By investing in the ArrayScanTM XTI and the Seahorse XFe we are equipped with some of the latest cutting-edge technologies, allowing us to expand our current offerings into key specialist areas.”
For further information:
Cyprotex PLC
Tel: +44 (0) 1625 505 100
Dr Anthony Baxter, Chief Executive Officer
John Dootson, Chief Financial Officer
Mark Warburton,
Chief Operating Officer and Legal Counsel
ir@cyprotex.com
www.cyprotex.com
N+1 Singer (Nomad and broker to Cyprotex)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000
Shaun Dobson
shaun.dobson@n1singer.com
Jen Boorer
jennifer.boorer@n1singer.com
www.n1singer.com
FTI Consulting Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000
Simon Conway
Mo Noonan
cyprotex@fticonsulting.com
www.fticonsulting.com
Notes to Editors
Cyprotex PLC
Cyprotex is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (CRX). It has sites at Macclesfield and Alderley Park, both of which are near Manchester in the UK, and at Watertown, MA and Kalamazoo, MI in the US. The Company was established in 1999 and works with more than 900 partners within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, cosmetics and personal care industry and the chemical industry. Cyprotex acquired Apredica and the assets of Cellumen Inc. in August 2010 and the combined business provides support for a wide range of experimental and computational ADME-Tox and PK services, extending from early drug discovery through to IND submission. The acquisition of the assets and business of CeeTox in January 2014 has enabled Cyprotex to expand its range of services to target the personal care, cosmetics and chemical industries. The Company’s core capabilities include high quality in vitro ADME screening services, mechanistic toxicology and high content toxicology screening services, including our proprietary CellCiphr® toxicity prediction technology, predictive modelling using PBPK and QSAR techniques, including Cloe® PK for in vivo PK prediction, and a range of skin, ocular and endocrine disruption services. For more information, see www.cyprotex.com.
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