Research Development

Mitochondrial Nanomedicine

Tailored and efficient therapeutics

The ongoing merger of nanoscience with mitochondrial medicine gives rise to novel strategies for diagnosis and therapy of mitochondrial disorders.

Multi-functional Nanomedicine

Technology convergence in development of targeted therapeutics

The use of multi-functional nanosystems affords convergence of technologies for simultaneous or sequential target-specific delivery of multiple drugs or by combining drugs with different energy modalities.

Drug Discovery

A decentralised multi-polar model

Where the pharmaceutical industry is being unable to successfully translate core models of drug discovery from theory to practice, the two-pronged approach of Evolva Biotech in building a diversified and risk balanced compound pipeline stands as a case in overcoming the hurdles faced by the industry in the R&D paradigm.

The Asian Vaccine Industry

Opportunities and challenges

A roadmap for Asian vaccine research and development programmes can lead to a strong regional vaccine industry, self-sufficient healthcare policy and the possibility of economic growth through the manufacturing of valuable biological products.

Controlling Infectious Diseases

Evaluation of vaccines

Although vaccine evaluation differs in various aspects from that for therapeutic drugs, many procedures specific for therapeutic drugs have been applied to vaccine evaluation.

Developing Cancer Vaccines

Using tumour-associated peptides

Effective next-generation cancer vaccines have to include relevant and well characterised antigens known to be presented by real tumour tissue.

Getting to the Heart of a Tumor Cell

Targeting the nucleus

In combination with other agents, tumour cell-specific nuclear targeting approaches have great potential in developing truly tumour cell-specific therapeutic treatments.

The Next Generation of Recombinant Immunotoxins

Reducing immunogenicity of the cytotoxic part

Immunotoxins comprise cell-specific targeting components coupled to cytotoxic agents. Although clinical data are encouraging, the problem of immunogenicity remains unsolved. To allow repeated administration, human immunotoxins with greatly reduced immunogenicity need to be developed.

Assessing the Immunogenicity of Protein Therapeutics

Immunogenicity poses a risk that should be assessed during drug development, as it possibly compromises drug safety and alters drug characteristics including pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. Immunogenicity assessment strategies combine pre-clinical predictive methods with clinical stage measurement of anti-drug antibodies.

Automated Purification of Natural and Synthetic Compounds

The purification of naturally derived and synthesised compounds via automated flash chromatography allows unattended separation while reducing errors and re-purifications.

Biomedical Polymers

Drug delivery and molecular imaging

During the last two decades, significant advances have been made in the development of biocompatible polymers as the platform for drug delivery and molecular imaging.

Electronic Health Records and Clinical Research

Despite the value of combining EHR and EDC for multicentre trials, we are many years away from a standard, usable process for this.

Pharmacogenomics and Personalised Medicine

Synergy between the industry and academia

Despite the value of combining EHR and EDC for multicentre trials, we are many years away from a standard, usable process for this.

Biopharma Convergence

Heralding a new era

Biopharma convergence seems to be the panacea for pharma companies struggling with weak R&D productivity and biotech firms facing funding shortfalls.

Natural Products in Drug Discovery

Drug discovery from natural products has reclaimed the attention of the pharma industry and is on the verge of a comeback due to new technological inputs that promise better returns on investment.

Challenges for R&D success in China

Novo Nordisk’s experience

For pharma R&D success in China, the essence is to know how the local environment will support or pose challenges to the characteristics of an effective organisation.

Model Behaviour

The use of biological models to study the effects of gene mutations is a cost-effective alternative to an animal model. The yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a particularly useful tool for this process.