Cyprotex Strengthens Product Offering

Cyprotex PLC (AIM:CRX), the drug discovery ADME Tox services and information company, today announces the introduction of two new services in pre-clinical ADME Tox.

PXR and AhR Nuclear Receptor Activation Assay

PXR and AhR nuclear receptor activation is key in the regulation of certain drug metabolism pathways.  Increase in such metabolism can cause lower plasma levels of co-administered drugs leading to reduced therapeutic effect, or increased metabolite production which may result in toxicity.

Nuclear receptors are unique from other types of receptors in the body in their ability to directly interact with and control the expression of genomic DNA.  More specifically, PXR and AhR are two of the most common nuclear receptors involved in the induction of cytochrome P450 drug metabolising enzymes, CYP3A4 and CYP1A2.  By identifying compounds that activate these nuclear receptors earlier in the drug discovery process, drug developers can ascertain the consequences of such interactions in a cost effective manner.

Lysosomal Trapping (Lysosomotropism) Service

Lysosomal trapping (lysosomotropism) has been implicated as a mechanism in drug-induced toxicity within lysosome-rich organs within the body.  Drugs with particular chemical properties can become trapped within the acidic environment of a compartment within the cell called the lysosome causing high levels to accumulate.  Cyprotex’s assay provides a robust, sensitive and rapid approach to identify compounds that have a propensity for lysosomal trapping.

Research & Development

Cyprotex continues to invest in the research and development of cutting-edge technologies as well as continually improving the quality of their product offering to provide customers with a growing suite of pre-clinical ADME Tox services.

Dr Katya Tsaioun, Chief Scientific Officer of Cyprotex, said:  “Cyprotex is at the forefront of scientific discovery in pre-clinical ADME Tox.  Our knowledge of how certain drugs exhibit toxic effects is growing all the time.  The latest additions to our growing suite of services further builds on our ‘fail early/fail cheaply’ approach to drug discovery, which is aimed at saving both time and money for drug developers.”

For further information:

Cyprotex PLC Tel: +44 (0) 1625 505 100
Dr Anthony Baxter, Chief Executive Officer
John Dootson, Chief Financial Officer
Mark Warburton, Chief Operating Officer and Legal Counsel ir@cyprotex.com
www.cyprotex.com

Singer Capital Markets Limited (broker to Cyprotex) Tel: +44 (0) 203 205 7500
Shaun Dobson
Claes Spang

shaun.dobson@singercm.com
claes.spang@singercm.com
www.singercm.com

FTI Consulting Tel: +44 (0) 20 7831 3113
Ben Brewerton
Ben Atwell
Mo Noonan 
www.fticonsulting.com