GAITHERSBURG, MD, October 10, 2008
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Pharmacodynamic (PD) assays have recently been developed and employed early in the drug development process to assess the ability of potential drug candidates to hit their molecular target(s). These assays have the advantages of allowing molecular "proof of concept" investigations at an early stage development such as phase 0 trials. These assays also provide the opportunity to prospectively identify patients likely to respond in clinical trials.
In cancer drug development, a current molecular target of high interest is poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). The metabolism initiated by PARP-1 is fundamentally related to the recovery or death of cancer cells. PARP inhibitors are of particular interest in that they are very well tolerated but are selectively toxic to cancer cells deficient in homologous recombination (HR), which includes BRCA1/2 deficient breast cancer cells genetically defective in HR. Until now, the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors in cells and tissues have been difficult to assess. Trevigen solves this problem with the release of the Pharmacodynamic PAR ELISA Assay, which measures the in vivo end product of the PARP reaction called poly(ADP-ribose) or PAR. This high throughput, chemiluminescent assay kit has been validated on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and has also been shown to work with normal and tumor tissue. Using highly characterized antibodies in a sandwich ELISA format, the kit detects PAR down to 5 pg per ml. By determining PAR levels in vivo prior to and following administration of PARP inhibitors, the assay is ideal for determining the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors in many formats including in patients in clinical trials.
About Trevigen, Inc.
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