In new drug development pipelines, there is an increasing trend to switch from “small” to “large” molecules (also known as biologics). While the FDA guidance was quite specific with their recommendations for small molecules ADME-Tox studies, there is not much currently published for these large molecules.

The Japanese PDMA guidelines 2019 issue refers to some specificity regarding their internalization and degradation pathway. They are also well known to be prone to trigger cytokine release. The so called “cytokine storm” is one of the major toxicity events to be feared.

To support R&D projects around Biologics development, I have illustrated in this post what tebu-bio can offer in terms of reagents and services, including tools to monitor cytokine release (blood derivatives and cytokine multiplex assays), and reagents to help decipher their mechanism of action and catabolism.

In a previous post, I introduced a complete panel of ready-to-use specialized media for smooth muscle primary cells culture. Produced by Cell Applications, a GMP certified manufacturer of primary cells distributed by tebu-bio in Europe, these media were originally designed for Cell Applications own primary cells culture. However, many researchers isolating their own cells are using them to benefit from the expertise of a primary cell manufacturer and to use thoroughly QC tested media. Here, I invite you to look at a new selection for popular primary cell types, from skeletal muscle cells to synoviocytes, endothelial cells to pre-adipocytes. Have a read and find the one you need!

Multiplex protein assays allow multiple targets quantification in a single sample, a bit like performing up to 40 different ELISAs in one go. Outsourcing Multiplex Protein Quantification projects to experts may work out more cost effective and time saving. It saves you the hassle of setting up a new technology in your lab, and you can rely on people with years of expertise in the technology to generate quality data on the very first run. Should you wish to set it up in your own lab, some technologies are easily adaptable if you have access to the equipment.

Nephropathy is a hot research topic, especially in relation to its link with Diabetes (already 6 500 publications so far referenced in pubmed to date for 2019, a third of them in relation to type I or type II diabetes). As nephropathy can lead to life endangering end-stage renal diseases (ESRDs) with a severe impact on life expectancy, a lot of research is being undertaken to find new drugs to beat this potentially severe condition. Several biomarkers of this pathology have already been identified such as CD27 antigen, kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and α1-microglobulin in relation to type I diabetes (1), in addition to the well known Clusterin, Cystatin-C, Microalbumin and Beta-2 Microglobulin.