Companies outsourcing to TTP will benefit from its knowledge of the technology underpinning the screening process, the Acumen microplate cytometer. Drawing on its experience of using the system TTP believes it can augment its existing business with an additional revenue stream.
“In the past, prospective clients seeking direct access to high-content data have often asked us whether we can combine our in-house biology expertise with the latest lab tools to provide a complete package”, commented Philip Blenkinsop, managing director of TTP.
Companies approaching TTP will now be offered two service packages, called standard and full. The standard package is aimed at companies which are willing to run the experiment in-house.
Plates produced during the in-house experiment are scanned and analysed by TTP to quickly deliver data to the client. This package is aimed at companies which already run regular screens but want to analyse them using a higher-throughput, high-content platform.
For companies without either the capabilities or desire to conduct in-house screens TTP offers its full service. Users of this package outsource the whole process, from cell culture through to analysis and reporting, to TTP, which will also provide full assay development when required.
Both packages use TTP’s Acumen technology. This consists of a laser which scans the bottom of a microplate or slide to provide rapid analysis which is unaffected by plate density.
Screening applications
TTP is marketing the screening service for use at numerous steps in the drug discovery process for numerous therapeutic areas. Applications include target identification and validation, primary and secondary screening and preclinical toxicology.
By applying different high-content assays, such as cell cycle analysis and apoptosis, the applications can be directed to different therapeutic areas. These include oncology, regenerative medicine and cardiovascular disease.