DiscoverX Launches Services for Early Identification of Potential Drug Side Effects

DiscoverX Corporation, a supplier of innovative cell-based assays and services for drug discovery and development, today has announced the launch of the SAFETYscan™ in vitro pharmacological profiling services, providing scientists an advanced platform for identifying potential drug side effects in the discovery and development process.

Reducing the rate of drug failures in the clinic is a major initiative within the pharmaceutical industry and early prediction of adverse events through in vitro assays is a commonly deployed strategy. Many neurological, cardiovascular, or gastrointestinal side effects can be linked to specific off-target activities and several of these targets were identified in a 2012 Nature Drug Discovery article based on the findings of four leading pharmaceutical companies (Bowes et al.  2012). Understanding the liability, the pharmaceutical industry has struggled with reliable tools to reduce off-target risk. SAFETYscan services enable more informed decision making about compound safety with relevant functional data earlier in the drug discovery process. "By launching the SAFETYscan services, DiscoverX solidifies its position as the leading provider of in vitro pharmacology services to the drug discovery industry and continues it track record of expanding our commercial offerings," stated Todd R. Nelson, Ph.D., CEO of DiscoverX. 

The SAFETYscan in vitro pharmacological profiling services provide a collection of 44 drug liability targets and is the only collection of assays utilizing human targets. By providing detailed insights into mechanism of action, studies that take months with other providers are completed in weeks with DiscoverX. Justin Mika M.S. M.B.A., General Manager of DiscoverX Drug Discovery Services, stated, "The SAFETYscan services provide innovation into drug safety and allows for more efficient safety risk reduction in drug discovery and development."