German science and technology company Merck has introduced screening services to more accurately predict genotoxic properties of substances, ingredients and drug compounds.
It can also predict mode of action properties - functional or anatomical changes that occur at the cellular level as a result of exposure to a toxic substance.
Merck will be the first company to provide this service in the United States. Screening is offered at the company's BioReliance testing facilities. The screening process uses flow cytometry to quickly and efficiently screen for clastogens, aneugens and non-genotoxicants (CAN) in pharmaceutical compounds, agricultural chemicals, flavours, fragrances and consumer products.
The results from the assay can help manufacturers reject harmful substances during product development or reduce undesirable properties at an early stage.
“Assessing toxicology is one of the most important steps in the development of chemicals, ingredients and drugs for use in pharmaceuticals, agriculture or consumer goods,” said Andrew Bulpin, Head of Process Solutions Strategic Marketing & Innovation, Life Science.
“This highly efficient and accurate service will allow for faster evaluation of compounds for potential hazards, making drugs, cosmetics, flavors, fragrances and other chemicals safer for consumers in the long run.”
Unlike other screening tests, the CAN MultiFlow analyses multiple biomarkers associated with DNA damage in a single high-throughput assay. These biomarkers include p53, hH2AX and Phospho-Histone H3.
This model provides more accurate predictions of genotoxicity to help avoid false positives, or other misinformation that may exclude an otherwise safe compound from a development pipeline.
With the addition of this new service, Merck now offers the industry’s most current and comprehensive range of solutions for genotoxicity assessment, from discovery to lead optimization, and from regulatory assessment to lead rescue.
