Pharma and Biopharma

Pharma industry has to know the effects of the new molecules on metabolism (metabolomics)  and on the proteins activities (proteomics). It also needs to know how drugs are metabolized and to control the biological components used for manufacturing.

We are available to discuss  our analytical procedures. Feel free to contact us for any information that may support you to know how mass spectrometry can be of use for your projects.

Services and technologies

Sample types :

Biopsies, tissus, serum, tears, cells, feces, FFPE…

Discovery and determination of effects by relative « label-free » quantification and bioinformatics data processing

This method permits the qualitative and quantitative comparison of different proteomes. Typically this technique is used to compare two conditions, for instance healthy vs unhealthy, and so to identify biomarkers which presence or quantity shows a physiological condition.

The samples LC-MS profiles are compared and the different peptides pikes areas are calculated. These areas are compared to those acquired for the same peptides in a reference sample and so a protein relative quantity is determined.

In the same test, it is possible to identify the proteins by comparison with databases.

The relative identification and quantification data are then treated with the CORAVALID module which determines biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and signaling and metabolic pathways related to analyzed proteins.

Therapeutic drugs metabolism

A fast and reliable identification of metabolites  is a critical point in the discovery of a new drug. The goal is to obtain a fast structural identification and a complete characterization of the major and minor metabolites in one shot.

The method is based on the research and characterization of molecules produced by a drug treatment given to an organism. Molecules rough formulas are deduced from measured exact masses and isotopic patterns since molecules structures are deduced from their fragmentation patterns.

Drug follow-up by targeted method

The drug quantification in a biological environment using a targeted method (Parallel Reaction Monitoring) is a key point to ensure this molecule is delivered at the right dose to its tissular/cellular target (Pharmacokinetics).

The approach is based on the quantification by Mass spectrometry using a targeted method (Multiple Reaction Monitoring). It allows measuring the quantity of the drug and corresponding metabolites.

Biomarkers follow-up

The drug effects on the physiological status need to be known.

Either the metabolic profiles perturbations (metabonomics) or the protein expression profiles variations (toxico-proteomics) of the treated organisms can be followed. The identification and quantification are done using LC-MS/MS spectra differential analysis.

This approach is based on the comparison between positive (treated patients) and negative samples (untreated patients).. Identification of discriminating components (proteins or metabolites) is performed by databases interrogations and their relative quantification is performed by comparing peaks areas of both samples.

Characterization and control of recombinant proteins, antibodies and biological materials

Many biological materials are used to make drugs such as antibodies, therapeutic proteins or peptides which are produced into bioreactors.

Recent advances in High Resolution Mass Spectrometry allow analyzing entire protein and are able to determine their mass with a great precision and accuracy. This technique is a key technique to detect slight post-translational variations in recombinant proteins, polypeptides or monoclonal antibodies. Indeed, production conditions may influence glycosylation or phosphorylation patterns of proteins. In the same way modifications of disulfide bonds between cysteine residues may occur. Those modifications, which may lead to protein or antibody inactivation, will be detected using mass spectrometry analysis of your purified protein.

This technique will allow to use homogenous biological materials being qualified using an independent technique.

Custom Services

Our teams are fully available to define best strategies for your project and answer to your questions.