In Vitro Assay Models for Drug Safety and Efficacy Assessment

Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company, is seeking in vitro models to assess immune-mediated organ toxicity for drug safety, as well as advanced in vitro models to evaluate drug efficacy in breast and lung cancers.

Approaches of Interest:

• Assessment of immune-mediated organ toxicity for drug safety
  • In vitro models to evaluate immune-mediated organ toxicities caused by pharmaceutical compounds, such as immuno-oncology drugs, in humans
  • The ability to detect the risk potential of drug-induced immune-mediated organ toxicity in humans using appropriate endpoint evaluations and to justify the validity of those evaluations using clinical drugs
  • Evaluation models incorporating technologies such as Microphysiological Systems (MPS) or co-culture systems with immune cells are of interest, although a simpler and precise approach would be preferred 
  • Models for all organs are of interest, with particular emphasis on vital systems including lung or heart 
• In vitro assay models for drug efficacy assessment
  • Repeatable and quantitatively measurable in vitro assay models/systems using iPSC-derived cells and patient-derived organoids to assess drug efficacy for breast and lung cancers
  • Model should be validated using multiple existing drugs, and drug-resistant models are also of interest
  • Assay models incorporating technologies such as MPS and imaging analysis techniques are also of interest

Out of Scope:

• Single-use test systems for drug efficacy assessments

Developmental Stages of Interest:

• Basic research through to clinical development with promising and unique technologies is within scope

Submission Information

Submission of one-page, 200–300-word briefs is encouraged, along with any optional supplementary information e.g. relevant publications. Our client is also open to novel research proposals which can be outlined using this submission form. In submitting to this campaign, you confirm that your submission contains only non-confidential information.

Opportunity for Collaboration

Our client is open to a range of collaboration opportunities, with the most appropriate outcome being decided on a case-by-case basis. Example outcomes include licensing assets, project/PhD funding, MTA, and research collaborations.