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Discovery Bioanalysis

Supporting Your Drug Discovery and Non-GLP Bioanalysis

WuXi AppTec’s Discovery non-GLP bioanalytical services support your therapeutic candidates with in vitro ADME, discovery biology, PK, PD and discovery toxicology. Using high-throughput technology platforms that provide high-quality data, our team of experts can provide unique insights that rapidly advance discovery efforts for:

 

  • Small molecule development
  • Large molecule/biologic development
  • Custom Bioreagent Development

Small Molecule Development

We offer extensive platform suites available for small molecule bioanalysis, comprised of industry-leading instrumentation to support global studies with rapid, precise and reproducible results. 

Our capabilities include:

Instrumentation

HPLC, UHPLC and High-throughput Autosamplers

  • Shimadzu Nexera™ UHPLC-30A
  • Waters ACQUITY UPLC™
  • Waters ACQUITY UPLC™ I-Class PLUS
  • Waters Alliance HPLC
  • CTC Analytics Dynamic Load Wash
  • Apricot Designs Dual Arm (ADDA auto ampler system)
  • MPX™-2 Shimadzu Nexera™ UHPLC-30A

 

First-Class Triple Quadrupole and High-Resolution MS Systems

  • SCIEX Triple Quad™ 5500+/6500+
  • SCIEX QTRAP® 6500
  • Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Plus
  • Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ HF
  • Waters Xevo® G2-XS QTof

HPLC, UHPLC and High-throughput Autosamplers

  • Shimadzu Nexera™ UHPLC-30A
  • Waters ACQUITY UPLC™
  • Waters ACQUITY UPLC™ I-Class PLUS
  • Waters Alliance HPLC
  • CTC Analytics Dynamic Load Wash
  • Apricot Designs Dual Arm (ADDA auto ampler system)
  • MPX™-2 Shimadzu Nexera™ UHPLC-30A

First-class Triple Quadrupole and High-resolution MS Systems

  • SCIEX Triple Quad™ 5500+/6500+
  • SCIEX QTRAP® 6500
  • Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Plus
  • Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ HF
  • Waters Xevo® G2-XS QTof

Large Molecule Development

Using the latest immunochemical capabilities, including an existing library of validated methods and state-of-the-art instrumentation, our experienced non-GLP large molecule bioanalytical team can rapidly develop and validate methods to support the development of your new biologics. Our capabilities include:

Validated in-house methods and reagent inventory

  • Immunogenicity (ADA and neutralizing antibodies)
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Single and multiplex biomarkers
  • Receptor occupancy and binding
  • Immunophenotyping: intra/extracellular, specific marker in organelle and Intranuclear
  • qPCR
  • Hybridization ELISA
  • Enzyme Activity assay
  • Preparation of PBMC and RNA samples
  • In vitro assay for different stimulation
  • Biodistribution
  • General lymphocyte immunophenotyping, Th1/Th2 multiplex cytokine, chemokine and proinflammatory cytokine panel, myocardial damage, TDAR

Instrumentation

  • Flow cytometry (BD FACSCanto™ II, BD LSRFortessa™ Flow Cytometer)
  • SpectraMax® M2e/M5 with SoftMax® Pro GxP 5.4.1, or equivalent
  • MESO™QuickPlex SQ 120 system
  • Tecan EVO® automated ELISA workstation
  • Hamilton Microlab® Star™ workstation
  • Bio-Tek® plate washer
  • qPCR (QuantStudio™ 7 Flex Real Time PCR System)
  • PCR Thermal Cycler
  • Waston LIMS™ for Seamless link to plate readers

Custom Bioreagent Development

Our bioreagent team develops custom reagents to support your candidates in the assessment of immunogenicity, PK and PD bioanalytical services. Our validated customized reagents rapidly analyze therapeutic candidates and advance development efforts.

Our development team can generate customized antibodies and proteins including:

 

  • Monoclonal
  • Polyclonal
  • Recombinant proteins
  • Peptides

Discovery Bioanalysis FAQs

What is discovery bioanalysis?

Bioanalysis during drug discovery is vital for early-stage analytical testing of drug candidates. This process helps identify and quantify potential drugs, metabolites and biomarkers in biological samples.

Why is bioanalytical testing important in the drug discovery process?

In the discovery phase, bioanalytical testing is essential for gaining insights into the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles, bioavailability, and metabolic pathways of new drug candidates. This information plays a crucial role in selecting promising compounds for further development.

What types of samples are analyzed in discovery bioanalysis?

Commonly utilized techniques in discovery bioanalysis involve liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other sophisticated chromatographic and spectrometric methods. These techniques offer high sensitivity and specificity in detecting compounds.

How are bioanalytical methods developed in the discovery phase?

Bioanalytical methods are created in the discovery phase through a systematic approach that involves selecting suitable techniques, optimizing conditions, and validating the methods to guarantee accuracy, precision, and robustness.

What are the challenges in discovery bioanalysis?

Discovery bioanalysis challenges arise from managing low concentrations of drug candidates, matrix effects from complex biological samples and the requirement for quick turnaround times. These challenges can be overcome with advanced analytical techniques and experienced scientists.

Can bioanalytical methods be customized for specific discovery projects?

Yes, bioanalytical methods can be customized to meet the specific needs of various discovery projects. This can involve creating unique assays and refining existing methods for particular research requirements.

How is data from discovery bioanalysis used?

The data obtained from discovery bioanalysis is utilized to make informed decisions regarding the suitability of drug candidates. This involves evaluating their pharmacokinetic properties, metabolic stability, and potential efficacy, guiding further development.

What regulatory guidelines apply to discovery bioanalysis?

Although the discovery phase is typically less regulated than later stages, it is crucial to adhere to best practices and scientific standards. Following guidelines from international regulatory bodies ensures the reliability of the generated data and its ability to support future regulatory submissions.

How quickly can discovery bioanalysis studies be completed?

The duration of discovery bioanalysis studies varies depending on the project’s complexity and the number of samples requiring analysis. Timelines are usually shorter in the discovery phase than in later stages, enabling swift decision-making.

What services does WuXi AppTec offer for discovery bioanalysis?

WuXi AppTec provides non-GLP bioanalytical services for drug discovery, including in vitro ADME, discovery biology, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and discovery toxicology.

What technologies are used in discovery bioanalysis at WuXi AppTec?

Our labs are equipped with high-throughput technologies, such as HPLC, UHPLC, mass spectrometry, and various immunoassay platforms, to support small- and large-molecule development.

Can WuXi AppTec develop custom bioreagents for discovery bioanalysis?

Yes, our bioreagent team develops customized antibodies, proteins, and peptides to support assessments of immunogenicity, PK, and PD for therapeutic candidates.

How does WuXi AppTec support large molecule development in discovery bioanalysis?

We offer capabilities like immunogenicity testing, receptor occupancy, biomarker analysis, and cell-based assays for biologics development.