- In October 2023, AstraZeneca (U.K.) revealed a new research development aimed at improving drug discovery. The study utilized data from 50,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, identifying associations between rare genetic variants and plasma proteins. This research will enhance the understanding of disease mechanisms and target identification for novel drug development. The findings are expected to accelerate drug discovery and biomarker development in AstraZeneca’s research and development pipeline, benefiting the company’s efforts in creating more effective personalized medicines. This development has a significant impact on the biopharmaceutical market, as it opens new avenues for targeted therapies with stronger evidence linking genes to protein functions, thereby increasing the efficacy of future drug treatments
- In January 2023, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) (Qatar) launched the first phase of its Tissue Biobank Service in collaboration with Qatar BioBank. This development aims to collect, process, store, and distribute human tissue samples for research purposes, with the goal of advancing the understanding of diseases and health conditions. The service will make available more than 300,000 surgical pathology samples collected since 2008, which will significantly contribute to medical research and the development of new therapies and diagnostic tests. The initiative will support the creation of innovative treatments and provide researchers with the means to study diseases at the cellular and molecular levels, improving patient care. This launch is expected to have a profound impact on medical research in Qatar and support health advancements both locally and internationally
- In January 2023, Quibim (Spain) partnered with the European Commission to launch EUCAIM, a federated infrastructure for cancer image data in Europe. This development aims to create a centralized hub that will link EU-level and national initiatives, hospital networks, and research repositories, focusing on improving cancer detection and treatment. The platform will facilitate cross-border access to cancer imaging data for researchers, clinicians, and innovators to analyze, visualize, and extract predictive models for patient outcomes. Quibim will adapt its QP-Discovery platform to meet the project’s requirements and enhance image quality control, harmonization, and data annotation. This initiative will allow for the integration of data from 21 clinical sites across 12 EU countries, supporting better early diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and faster decision-making in cancer care. The EUCAIM project aims to significantly improve clinical decision-making, making cancer treatments more precise and efficient, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare systems across Europe
- In December 2023, Charles River Laboratories (U.S.) finalized an agreement with CELLphenomics (Germany) to expand its 3D in vitro testing services for cancer therapy drug screening. This development integrates CELLphenomics' PD3D tumor model platform into Charles River’s portfolio, allowing for more advanced oncological drug testing. The partnership will enhance preclinical cancer research by providing access to patient-derived 3D cell culture models, which will improve therapeutic efficacy predictions and biomarker identification. This collaboration aims to accelerate the drug discovery process, particularly for rare and ultra-rare cancers, by combining high-quality models and streamlined drug screening techniques. The impact on the market will be significant, offering new tools for the development of personalized cancer therapies, ultimately benefiting patients by enabling faster, more effective treatments
- In September 2023, Tecan (Switzerland) launched the Phase Separator to advance automation in liquid biopsy and biobanking. This development introduces a highly innovative solution designed to improve the automation of liquid biopsy sample processing, providing faster and more efficient workflows. The Phase Separator is specifically aimed at facilitating the separation of plasma from blood samples, which is a critical step in the liquid biopsy process for disease monitoring and biomarker analysis. By automating this step, the device improves accuracy and efficiency, while reducing the manual labor traditionally involved. This benefit is expected to accelerate the application of liquid biopsy technologies, enhancing their use in early disease detection, personalized medicine, and biomarker discovery. The impact on the market will be substantial, as it enables more streamlined workflows in biobanks, reducing processing time and increasing data reliability, thereby facilitating faster and more efficient research in fields such as cancer and genomics
