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Clinical applications of microarrays, such as comparative genomic hybridization, are presented.

This article covers various biopharmaceutical companies that are conducting research in bioinformatics and genomics, both of which have been shown to provide tremendous benefits in the area of science. Companies mentioned include IntegraGen, Agilent Technologies, Ilumina, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Supratek Pharma Inc. of Montreal has developed a novel ligand for early detection of the cause of uncontrolled growth of new blood vessels in angiogenic conditions, which can stop new blood vessels from developing and inhibit tumors. Anti-angiogenesis is used in over 40 illnesses, and can eliminate the need for therapy.

Software to provide databases of life sciences information is under development.

A study conducted by Waltham, MA-based Decision Resources reveals that sales of post-genomics is expected grow from the $115 million in 2002 to $896 million in 2007.

Companies are exploring new applications and protocols in the areas of data-analysis software that is linked to microarrays obtained from gene expression and protein-drug interactions. Some companies are targeting such areas as clinical diagnostics, drug screening, and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Recently, the interest is on the potential application of microarray technology to proteomics. DNA diagnostics and the advantages of the technology, bead-array-based technology, membrane receptors, and protein-protein interaction screening are discussed.

Proteomics is a new area in biotechnology, dealing with protein synthesis, specifically factors such as protein production, size, bioactivity and conformation, and the set requirement and functionality. Mark Lepinske of Novagen Inc., Merrilyn Datta of Invitrogen Life Technologies, Fergal Hill of Avidis, and William Rich of Ciphergen Biosystems Inc. talk about the research in proteomics being done at their companies.

Many companies are experimenting with ways to improve scale-up procedures to ensure the protection and durability of anitbodies. Peregine Pharmaceuticals, Protein Design Labs, and IDEC Pharmaceutical Corp. offer new systems and discoveries to aid in the protection of antibodies through the trial and development process.

High-throughput screening technologies are being developed by Aurora Biosciences, Molecular Devices, Harvard Biosciences, and Applied Biosystems, among others, that relieve common problems associated with the drug development process. High-throughput screening devices identify compounds quickly while maintaining accuracy, and are helping researchers discover drug treatments for national disease foundations like the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Genome Therapeutics, MA, developed a strategy to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism of human genes associated with diseases and develop new drugs that target these genes.

Pharmacia Corp., Peapack, NJ, received approval from the Food and Drug authority to market the antibiotic drug, Zyvox.

The technology behind the development of high content screening methods that couples cell-based assays with robotics to analyze biological sample is described. Various research operations performed to develop data mines that can store large amount of research data are also presented.

The combination of proteomic approaches with high-throughput screening technology has many benefits for clinical therapeutics, including identification of protein markers combined with certain human diseases, antibody or drug targets for treatment, disease progression and treatment monitors, and diagnostics for the early detection of certain diseases. Various companies researching this area are Serenex, Imaging Research, Finnigan, and Ciphergen Biosystems.

Several companies are employing various approaches to research in biomaterials, which are synthetic, vitro-cultured and human-derived tissue modifications that can be used to augment or replace living systems. These research efforts may provide operating room solutions. The biomaterial solutions being developed are discussed.

Inhale Therapeutic Systems Inc. released data from a study with their inhaleable insulin in diabetic patients continuing on the inhaleable therapy for up to 30 months.

The efficacy of translational medicine methods in drug research is discussed.

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