Cisbio Bioassays and IGF Launch CNS Drug Discovery Research Program
The GluSense project involves sensors that enable real-time detection of responses from glutamate receptors — part of a family of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) targets that are related to central nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and depression. The technology was developed and patented by Cisbio Bioassays in collaboration with Dr. Jean-Philippe Pin, director of IGF’s molecular pharmacology department, and his team, using Cisbio Bioassays’ Tag-lite® platform. The ANR funds will be used to apply the technology to all receptors in this GPCR family, and create tools for identifying and characterizing drug candidates that act on them.
“The GluSense technology allows researchers to better understand the mechanism of action of molecules that act on this receptor class, as well as avoid difficulties when implementing tests used to identify these receptors’ allosteric regulators,” said Dr. Pin. “Tag-lite has demonstrated that its multiple applications add tremendous scientific value to the research and characterization of GPCR interactions on the cell surface—already it has enabled us to validate new paradigms as illustrated by our results published in leading scientific journals.”
In addition to the GluSense project, Cisbio Bioassays and IGF have created a joint laboratory at IGF to investigate technologies that facilitate the study of interactions between biomolecules on the surface of living cells. These technologies will be applied to research projects focused on GPCRs and, following a technology transfer from the laboratory to Cisbio Bioassays, developed into products for use by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
“Cisbio Bioassays has been collaborating with IGF on GPCR research for over a decade. In 2006, the ANR’s support enabled us to apply our proprietary technologies towards the development of new tools for GPCR dimerization on the surface of living cells,” explains Dr. Gerard Mathis, vice president research & development at Cisbio Bioassays. “This long-standing collaboration with top-notch researchers has increased our know-how in receptor investigation and positioned the company as the recognized expert in this domain. It is also testimony to successful industrial and academic endeavors that bring competitive advantages to both partners which, in turn, position them as leaders in their respective fields.”
About Cisbio Bioassays and IBA group
Cisbio Bioassays is a global developer of products and technologies used for in vitro diagnostics and assay development for drug screening procedures. The company pioneered the field of homogenous fluorescence methodologies via its proprietary technology, HTRF®, a highly sensitive, robust technology for the detection of molecular interactions and widely used by the pharmaceutical industry for the high throughput screening stage of drug development. In addition, Cisbio Bioassays produces a selection of biological reagents and methods used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as contract research organizations (CROs). Headquartered in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France, with facilities in Bedford, MA, U.S.A., and a network of distributors worldwide, Cisbio Bioassays is a member of the Belgium-based IBA group. IBA develops and markets leading edge technologies, pharmaceuticals and tailor-made solutions for healthcare with a focus on cancer diagnosis and therapy. Leveraging on its scientific expertise, IBA is also active in the field of industrial sterilization and ionization. Listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT, IBA is included in the BelMid Index. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).
Please visit www.htrf.com and www.iba-worldwide.com for more information about Cisbio Bioassays, HTRF technology and IBA.
HTRF® and Tag-lite® are trademarks of Cisbio Bioassays.
Media contacts:
Christina Aplington / Aline Dubucq Ballou PR for Cisbio Bioassays +33 (0)1 42 22 93 65 / +33 (0)1 42 22 97 65 christina@balloupr.com /aline@balloupr.com