XBL’s research sites will have access to Solvo’s efflux and uptake transporter assays.
XenoBiotic Laboratories established a partnership with Hungary-based Solvo Biotechnology to offer in vitro transporter services in the U.S. Solvo will transfer its efflux and uptake transporter assays to XBL’s research facilities in New Jersey.
The services will be made available to American customers through both Solvo and XBL sales channels. Through this collaboration Solvo will be introducing GLP services in addition to its current ISO 9001 certified portfolio throughout its processes.
This partnership aims to meet the increasing demand for studying drug-transporter interactions. As the FDA pointed out in its Drug Interaction Draft Guidance released in February, “similar to CYP enzymes, transporters may be inhibited or induced. Inhibition of transporters by interacting drugs can lead to altered exposure of other drugs that are substrates of transporters. Therefore, the potential for an investigational drug as a substrate, inhibitor, or inducer for transporters should be evaluated during drug development.”
Erno Duda, Solvo’s president and CEO, comments, “Its strong reputation for providing high-quality science, expertise, and services in drug metabolism and GLP bioanalysis for over 25 years made XBL an attractive partner for Solvo. Being able to offer transporter assays within XBL’s facilities in New Jersey in the United States fits into our business strategy of increasing our presence in the U.S., broadening our portfolio with GLP studies and partnering with companies whose portfolio complements ours, and vice versa.” Solvo says that it was the first to commercialize transporter assays when it entered the market in 1999.
“Adding transporter assays will further complement our in vitro drug interaction study capabilities, and offer our clients a comprehensive set of ADME services as part of their drug development program,” remarks Dennis Heller, vp of pharmaceutical development at XBL. The firm currently provides in vivo and in vitro drug metabolism studies that include CYP and phase II enzyme inhibition, induction, and phenotyping assays.