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Articles

Figure 1 Comparison between the spectra derived from a 5μm polystyrene bead using either standard Raman spectroscopy (A) or modulated Raman spectroscopy (B)
Figure 1 Comparison between the spectra derived from a 5μm polystyrene bead using either standard Raman spectroscopy (A) or modulated Raman spectroscopy (B)

Raman spectroscopy and cancer cells

19 August 2010 | By Andrew Riches, Professor of Experimental Pathology, School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews and Co-authors: C. Simon Herrington, School of Medicine Kishan Dholakia, Elisabetta Canetta, Antonia Carruthers, Michael Mazilu, Anna Chiara de Luca, School of Physics & Astronomy Chris Goodman, Greg Kata, Nabi Ghulam, Kadi Nourdin, Department of Urology, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee

Raman spectroscopy has the potential to provide diagnostic information to the clinician. The technique has a number of advantages allowing individual cells to be interrogated without staining. With further developments in technology, the surgeon will be able to rapidly acquire accurate diagnostic information at the time of operation using fibre…

Figure 1 Packing diagrams showing the different molecular arrangements in polymorphs A (left) and B (right) of the antipsychotic drug risperidone (centre). Unit cell parameters for each polymorph are shown.
Figure 1 Packing diagrams showing the different molecular arrangements in polymorphs A (left) and B (right) of the antipsychotic drug risperidone (centre). Unit cell parameters for each polymorph are shown.

Polymorph screening in pharmaceutical development

19 August 2010 | By Professor Alastair J. Florence, Solid-State Research Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde

The majority of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are produced by crystallisation and so the phenomenon of polymorphism, whereby an organic molecule can adopt more than one crystalline form (Figure 1), is of considerable importance when trying to achieve consistent product quality during the manufacture of pharmaceutical solids and solid dosage…

Figure 1 openBIS is a software framework for organising and annotating data and metadata from biological experiments, providing query and display functionality, integrating it into data pipelines and sharing it with other researchers
Figure 1 openBIS is a software framework for organising and annotating data and metadata from biological experiments, providing query and display functionality, integrating it into data pipelines and sharing it with other researchers

Towards a comprehensive open source platform for management and analysis of High Content Screening data

19 August 2010 | By Karol Kozak, Angela Bauch, Gabor Csucs,Tomasz Pylak & Bernd Rinn, ETH Zurich

As High Content Screening (HCS) has moved into the mainstream for biological and pharmaceutical investigations, a lag of well integrated pipelines for automated acquisition, management and analysis of HCS results turns out to be a bottleneck for fully leveraging the wealth of information contained in a screen and moving to…

Figure 1 Cardiac safety schematic integrating indirect ion channel modulation analysis
Figure 1 Cardiac safety schematic integrating indirect ion channel modulation analysis

Indirect modulation of cardiac ion channels and implications for preclinical safety assessment

19 August 2010 | By Gül Erdemli & Dmitri Mikhailov, Center for Proteomic Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Sciences and Albert M Kim, Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Sciences

The preclinical assessment of a small molecule’s liability for QT interval prolongation is an essential part of the drug discovery process. Patch clamp assays for heterologously expressed recombinant cardiac ion channels are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to evaluate potential drug-channel interactions. These assays are generally acute assessments and…

The scope of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in real-time advanced control of tablet quality
The scope of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in real-time advanced control of tablet quality

Process Analytical Technology: An industry perspective

19 August 2010 | By Uwe Kirschner, General Manager, Sentronic GmbH, Rick E. Cooley, Market Development Manager - Process Analytics, Dionex Corporation, Rebecca Vangenechten, Business Development, Siemens Headquarters Pharma and Kjell François, Project Leader in PAT

Process Analytical Technology (PAT) is a system for designing, analysing and controlling pharmaceutical manufacturing processes through measurements of critical quality and performance attributes of raw and processed materials to ensure final product quality, the idea of which is to become more efficient while reducing over-processing, enhancing efficiency and minimising waste.…

Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Industry Advanced Training (PIAT)
Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Industry Advanced Training (PIAT)

Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Industry Advanced Training (PIAT)

19 August 2010 | By Brian Lockwood, Director of PIAT, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester

Toxicology is the study of the harmful interactions between chemicals and biological systems. Man, as well as other animals and plants, is increasingly exposed to a huge variety of chemicals. These range from metals to large complex organic molecules, all of which are potentially toxic. A toxicologist must understand pathology,…

Figure 1 Overview of DILI-sim A. Schematic overview of the key biological processes represented in DILI-sim B. Overview of different modules within DILI-sim. Each module is itself a model that captures a specific area of relevant biology, pharmacology and metabolism. This modular approach to DILI-sim allows the overall model to be built in manageable, testable pieces C. Knowledge management aspects of DILI-sim. Under each of the models, the supporting evidence is explicitly captured and hence the model acts as a highly structured knowledge repository
Figure 1 Overview of DILI-sim A. Schematic overview of the key biological processes represented in DILI-sim B. Overview of different modules within DILI-sim. Each module is itself a model that captures a specific area of relevant biology, pharmacology and metabolism. This modular approach to DILI-sim allows the overall model to be built in manageable, testable pieces C. Knowledge management aspects of DILI-sim. Under each of the models, the supporting evidence is explicitly captured and hence the model acts as a highly structured knowledge repository

Applying systems biology and computer simulations to predicting idiosyncratic DILI

19 August 2010 | By David Cook, Associate Director, Global Safety Assessment, AstraZeneca

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare adverse drug reaction which accounts for a significant amount of patient suffering, including death. Currently, idiosyncratic DILI is unpredictable and as a result arises late in the drug development process or even post-marketing. The prediction of idiosyncratic DILI based on preclinical or…

Figure 1 ASSET™ plan and detail Copyright: The Automation Partnership
Figure 1 ASSET™ plan and detail Copyright: The Automation Partnership

High content cell based primary screening for oncology targets – a perspective

25 June 2010 | By Peter Alcock, Colin Bath, Carolyn Blackett & Peter B. Simpson, Screening & Assay Sciences, Cancer Bioscience, AstraZeneca Alderley Park

Over the last 15 years, vendors have offered microscope-based instruments capable of producing images of fluorescent labelled components of cells grown in microtitre plates. These instruments are typically bundled with analysis software capable of defining the relative distribution of several fluorescent markers on a cell by cell basis1,2. As the…

Article 3: The implementation of rapid microbiological methods
Article 3: The implementation of rapid microbiological methods

Article 3: The implementation of rapid microbiological methods

24 June 2010 | By Michael J. Miller, Ph.D., President, Microbiology Consultants, LLC

This is the third in a series of articles on rapid microbiological methods that will appear in European Pharmaceutical Review during 2010. Rapid microbiological methods (RMMs) have been implemented by a number of companies around the world. In some cases, it is necessary to work with regulatory authorities in order…

Figure 1 Evolutionary systems biology for personalized medications. Over time, iterative cycles of experimentation and modelling facilitate a move from current understanding and therapeutic options, towards a more complete understanding of disease, with the possibility for personalised therapies. Inputs are needed in the form of system-wide data sets, which are highly anticipated to become increasingly detailed and accurate as analytical technologies improve. Interim benefits are also gained with each advancing cycle, in the form of continually evolving models that improve disease management and guide therapy (Figure produced with Jennifer Logan, University of Liverpool)
Figure 1 Evolutionary systems biology for personalized medications. Over time, iterative cycles of experimentation and modelling facilitate a move from current understanding and therapeutic options, towards a more complete understanding of disease, with the possibility for personalised therapies. Inputs are needed in the form of system-wide data sets, which are highly anticipated to become increasingly detailed and accurate as analytical technologies improve. Interim benefits are also gained with each advancing cycle, in the form of continually evolving models that improve disease management and guide therapy (Figure produced with Jennifer Logan, University of Liverpool)

High-throughput PCR based diagnostics: Linking sample handling to molecular oncology risk groups

24 June 2010 | By Ehsan G. Karimiani, Stephan Mohr & Philip J. R. Day, University of Manchester

Cancer molecular pathology broadly relies on the comparison between diseased and normal tissues, with statistically validated differences revealing cancerassociated pathways. This approach, although comparatively one-dimensional, has been remarkably successful, enabling identification of many types of malignant biomarkers and providing the means to develop pharmaceutical agents directed against pertinent biological targets.…

Drug Discovery and Development
Drug Discovery and Development

Novel medicines development for cancer treatment

24 June 2010 | By Hans Winkler, Global Head Oncology & Biomarker Programs, Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson

The pharmaceutical industry has reached a critical phase in its evolution. The cost and time to develop novel medicines has become unsustainable3. Reasons for this may include a much higher demand on evidence of safety and efficacy, rapidly increasing costs of contract research and the tremendous pressure on pricing and…

Figure 1 Targeting viral-associated RNAs at different stages of infection. Step 1, targeting of incoming RNA; step 2, targeting of viral mRNAs following provial integration; and step 3, targeting viral outgoing pregenomic template DNA.
Figure 1 Targeting viral-associated RNAs at different stages of infection. Step 1, targeting of incoming RNA; step 2, targeting of viral mRNAs following provial integration; and step 3, targeting viral outgoing pregenomic template DNA.

RNAi-based therapies for the treatment of HIV

24 June 2010 | By Marc S. Weinberg and Fiona van den Berg, Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of Witwatersrand

Since the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in 1998 and the demonstration of RNAi in mammalian cells in 2001, research into the mechanisms and applications of this pathway has moved swiftly. RNAi is capable of mediating potent and specific silencing of genes and has therefore shown promise in the development…

Automation in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Automation in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Trends in laboratory automation: From speed and simplicity to flexibility and information content

24 June 2010 | By Fernando A. Ramon Olayo, Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

The pharmaceutical industry has significantly influenced laboratory automation trends in the past two decades. The need to screen large collections of chemical entities in a short time with minimised consumption of reagents has driven a strong demand of parallelisation, automation, simplification and miniaturisation solutions from the suppliers of instruments, labware…

Figure 1 Cell undergoing senescence. Cell showing characteristics of cellular senescence: binucleated and flat and enlarged morphology
Figure 1 Cell undergoing senescence. Cell showing characteristics of cellular senescence: binucleated and flat and enlarged morphology

Cellular senescence as an anti-tumour mechanism

24 June 2010 | By Amancio Carnero, Scientist, Seville Biomedical Research Institute (IBIS/HUVR), Spanish National Research Council

One of the critical steps in human carcinogenesis is cellular immortalisation, a process in which cells must escape senescence and acquire an infinite lifespan. In the absence of immortalisation, although a cell might undergo malignant transformation, it could not proliferate indefinitely. Furthermore, it has been clearly established in vitro and…

Figure 1 MD simulation model of the opsin-transducin complex in a POPC lipid bilayer. Opsin and transducin are drawn in ribbon format and post-translational modification on opsin and transducin are represented in space-fill style. Opsin is oriented in the bilayer such that helix 4 (H4) is perpendicular to the plane of the bilayer. The extracellular surface is oriented toward the top of the figure.
Figure 1 MD simulation model of the opsin-transducin complex in a POPC lipid bilayer. Opsin and transducin are drawn in ribbon format and post-translational modification on opsin and transducin are represented in space-fill style. Opsin is oriented in the bilayer such that helix 4 (H4) is perpendicular to the plane of the bilayer. The extracellular surface is oriented toward the top of the figure.

Examining receptor activation: New technologies reveal how G protein-coupled receptors recognise ligands and talk to intracellular partners

24 June 2010 | By Thomas P. Sakmar, Laboratory of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Rockefeller University

Heptahelical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are arguably the most important single class of pharmaceutical drug targets in the human genome. According to Overington, of the 266 human targets for approved drugs, a remarkable 27 per cent correspond to rhodopsin-like, or Family A, GPCRs. Despite recent dramatic advances in targeting of…