Shift to Phenotypic Assays Spurs Growth in High Content Screening Sector

Business Wire, Sept 17, 2007

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Various factors, such as the need for high performance research technologies, the generation of information within a sample and the growing instances of diseases, all contribute to the growth in the high content screen (HCS) sector. This development is furthered by the low instance of false positives and false negative results.

Frost & Sullivan's (http://www.ti.frost.com) study High Content Screening for Target Identification and Validation finds that even though HCS and conventional methods such as high throughput screening (HTS) execute similar functions, the inherent characteristics of HCS enables superior performances, thereby leading to HCS adoption. The current trend displays that most pharmaceutical and biotech institutions favor working with HCS in comparison to conventional methods, due to the unparalleled advantages that HCS produces.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants an overview of the latest analysis of the High Content Screening for Target Identification and Validation, then send an e-mail to Melina Trevino - Corporate Communications at melina.trevino@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information via e-mail upon receipt of the above information.

The ability to minimize errors is a critical driver in drug response. Drug response relates to whole cells with the presence of thousands of targets, instead of single targets, that aid in the instant identification of undesirable side effects.

These multiplexed HCS assays help in the measurement of multiple parameters within single cells. The calculation, analysis, and interpretation of the parameters for every single cell generates a variety of information simultaneously in the same sample. This is a critical driver as it enables sensing a drug's toxicity and its side effects, in addition to its action.

"In addition to the shift from target-based assays to phenotypic assays, HCS offers the unique benefit of mining of primary images later as required for gaining additional information," explains Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Meena Kannan. "It further helps in identifying targets that cannot be evaluated by the use of HTS, such as translocation or sub cellular analysis of pathways and the analysis of multiple events within a cell at a single time."

Apart from these advantages, HCS meets the need for efficacious and speedy research tools, spurred by the fierce competition in the drug discovery industry and therapeutics sector.

However, despite increasing utilization of HCS, it must rise above the competition posed by conventional methods such as HTS and microfluidics. HCS promoters should work to overcome conventional mindsets of consumers reluctant to change existing systems. Publication of company innovations and developments to ensure that the information reaches the customers explaining its benefits and usefulness is necessary to promote HCS adoption and erase any consumer apprehensions.

Large initial investments required to change systems is another factor slowing the acceptance of HCS. "Companies must work toward creating platforms with greater competitive advantages and more economically viable through tactical partnerships and alliances," notes Kannan. "This move would enable more powerful distribution, marketing, and merging of research knowledge, creating more formidable products in the marketplace."

High Content Screening for Target Identification and Validation is part of the Technical Insights - Therapeutics and Clinical Diagnostics, which also includes research in the following application sectors: biotechnology, pharmaceutical and drug discovery, and therapeutics. Markets across Asia, North America, and Europe have been covered in this study. This research service provides a valuable overview by offering a synopsis of emerging technologies in HCS. It also includes a summary of key patents that will offer an insight into notable activities and important participants. All research services included in this subscription provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews are available for the press.

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