The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to expedite the drug discovery and development process. This transformation has opened up new opportunities to improve healthcare outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and create novel therapeutics that address unmet medical needs. The following are some of the latest technologies that are revolutionizing drug discovery and development:
Humanized Mouse Models: Humanized mouse models have emerged as a valuable tool for evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of drugs in the context of a human immune system. These models are created by transplanting human immune cells into immunodeficient mice, thereby providing a more realistic representation of human physiology. Humanized mouse models offer a platform to evaluate immunotherapies and anticancer drugs with a high degree of specificity and accuracy. Our partner Envigo provides humanized mouse models to helps one obtain more clinically relevant information. Envigo utilizes the power of CRISPR-Cas9 and ZFN gene editing technologies to create disease specific humanized models.
Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX): PDX models are an important innovation in drug discovery and development, providing a more accurate representation of the patient’s disease than traditional cell-line-derived models. These models are created by transplanting fresh cancer tissue samples from patients into immunocompromised mice. PDX models can be used to evaluate drug efficacy, toxicity, and identify novel biomarkers for precision medicine. Our partner Crown Bioscience has the world’s largest PDX collection which ensures users generate data that translates better to clinic.
Organoids: Organoids are three-dimensional cell cultures that mimic the structure and function of human organs. These models are created by culturing patient-derived cells in a specialized medium that can promote their self-organization into complex structures. Organoids offer a platform to study disease mechanisms, screen drugs, and develop personalized treatments. Organoids can also be used for toxicology testing, enabling researchers to predict drug toxicity and reduce animal testing.
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell lines: iPSC technology provides a powerful tool for studying disease pathways and developing in vitro human models with well-controlled experimental conditions. In particular, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) have emerged as a useful model for investigating the function and dysfunction of cardiomyocytes, drug screening and toxicity, disease modeling, and the development of novel drugs for heart diseases.
iPSC-CMs have been used to study various cardiac diseases, including arrhythmias, heart failure, and cardiomyopathies. They have also been utilized to investigate the mechanisms of drug-induced cardiotoxicity and screen for novel therapeutics that can alleviate these toxic effects [5]. In addition, iPSC-CMs have been employed to develop disease models for inherited cardiac diseases, such as long QT syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, providing a platform to study disease progression and identify potential therapeutic targets. Our partner Nexel manufacture hiPSC derived cardiomyocytes which are highly pure and electrophysiologically active population of cells, suitable for all types of experiments in the field of cardiomyocytes.
The use of iPSC technology for drug discovery and development in the Indian biopharma industry has shown tremendous promise, with several companies investing in this technology to develop novel therapeutics for various diseases.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML are rapidly transforming the drug discovery and development landscape by enabling researchers to analyze vast datasets and identify novel drug targets. AI and ML can be used to predict drug efficacy, toxicity, and identify potential side effects.
Precision Medicine: Precision medicine involves the use of genomic data to develop personalized drugs for patients. This approach considers a patient’s genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environmental factors to create drugs that are tailored to their individual needs. Precision medicine offers the potential to increase the effectiveness of drugs, reduce side effects, and improve patient outcomes.
Bioprinting: Bioprinting involves using 3D printing technology to create three-dimensional structures of tissues and organs. Bioprinting can be used to develop novel therapeutics and test them more efficiently by creating realistic models of the human body. Bioprinting has the potential to revolutionize drug development by enabling the creation of physiologically relevant models for drug testing.
In conclusion, the pharmaceutical industry is leveraging new technologies to accelerate the drug discovery and development process, leading to improved healthcare outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. These technologies offer immense predictive and data analytics capabilities, enabling researchers to identify novel drug targets, develop personalized medicines, and create more realistic models of the human body for efficient drug testing. As the industry continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies, we can expect to see more targeted and personalized treatments that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Dr. Nidhi Khurana holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology and leverages her knowledge of science and marketing to build thoughtful partnerships with industry leaders. Currently, Dr. Khurana serves as the Head of Marketing at GV Research Platform, where she is responsible for driving growth and building the company’s brand. Alongside, she is passionate about writing and uses it as a medium to educate the community on the latest trends and technologies in the drug discovery and development space.