Molecular Profiles expands into early-development

UK contract research organization (CRO) Molecular Profiles says speed to clinical is key demand driver for drug development sector.

Speaking at AAPS 2010 in New Orleans, Robert Harris, MP’s director of early development, told Outsourcing-pharma that recognition of this need was the main motivation for the firm’s recent move into the early-phase development space.

Harris went on to highlight solubility as one of the major hurdles that developers face when trying to move pre-clinical candidates into trials, particularly with the industry’s focus on large molecule and complex biologic drugs.

The main issue for a company developing a new drug is the speed with which it can be taken to clinic. Time is of the essence.”

These thoughts echo comments by CEO Nikin Patel, who said: “ [The firm is] committed to bringing innovative scientific approaches to the rapid and pragmatic cost-effective development of formulations for phase I and beyond.”