Technology Offer

Ref: 06 HU HUBU 0GQN

Date: 28/11/2006 15:03:37

Title: Cell based in-vitro toxicological screening system

Abstract: A Hungarian research group has developed cell lines that are optimised for in-vitro toxicology screening of compounds. These cell lines can be used in the evaluation of toxicological properties of compounds in the pharmaceutical industry as well as fine chemicals and cosmetics. This technology can detect non-acute and complex toxicity, which is difficult by other means. The provider is looking for licensees or clients for in-house screening services.

Description: The technology on offer is a cell based in-vitro toxicological screening system that can be used in the toxicology testing of a drug candidate or other chemical compound that needs to be tested. This screening system is relevant for all industries producing chemical or biological compounds that will ultimately come in contact with humans. Animal tests, which are currently used in toxicological studies are expensive, time consuming, and limited by the fact that the used animals are genetically not related to humans. Just as important, the public is more and more concerned about the use of animals. In-vitro toxicology testing, using human cells, is becoming an increasingly appealing alternative to animal testing in many applications and it is in this context this technology should be evaluated. This cell based in-vitro toxicity testing uses cells transfected with DNA constructs containing indicators of stress. Many different types of stresses can be detected and the constructs can be used for many different cell types. In addition to acute toxicity this system can be used to assess the long term, non-acute toxicity of compounds, something that is hard in other toxicity assays. The products or services on offer are cell lines transfected with a gene construct to express inducible stress markers. The constructs used can also be a separate product that can be licensed and inserted in the customer’s cell lines. The provider of this technology has extensive experience in immunology and has developed this and similar assays for a long time. Innovative Aspects: - Innovative and highly efficient stress indicator constructs that can be used for various cell lines. - Cell lines that have been selected over a long time to be highly specific for toxicology tests. This technology can detect compounds: - which cause health problems only over prolonged periods of exposure, - which are much less toxic to experimental animals than to humans, or affect only a fraction of the population, - which are harmless if applied alone, but become toxic if combined with, or in the presence of other compounds, - which have teratogenic effect or interfere with the differentiation of cells.