|
 |
| PRECLINICAL
CONSULTING |
The
senior leadership of MIR has in excess of 60 years
of experience in many aspects of cancer drug discovery,
cancer drug evaluation, and cancer drug development
through early clinical trial. The company offers
consulting services and preclinical project management
services for a number of activities including target
validation, optimization of cancer drug discovery
strategies, IND packages, pharmacodynamics, in licensing
opportunities, and pipeline evaluation. |
|
|
|
| PRECLINICAL EFFICACY
TESTING IN MODELS OF CANCER |
MIR
applies a number of key technologies toward the
evaluation of anticancer activity and preclinical
oncology assessments. Traditional evaluation in
syngeneic and human tumor xenograft studies remains
a mainstay of our evaluation services. These traditional
models are supplemented with orthotopic and transgenic
tumor models. The application of a wide array of
state of the art imaging technologies make all of
these model systems more quantitative, and particularly
enhance the efficiency of orthotopic and transgenic
tumor models. The addition of functional imaging
technologies provides an integrated and quantitative
correlation of efficacy with mechanism of action.
This enables the client to validate intended clinical
biomarkers and set expected decision-making thresholds
for modulation of surrogate markers in phase I and
II clinical trials.
Click Here for More |
|
|
|
| PRECLINICAL EFFICACY
TESTING IN MODELS OF INFLAMMATION |
Our Inflammation Services group offers a wide range of animal models for the study of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. By combing classical pharmacology studies with our state of the art imaging expertise, MIR can produce comprehensive data packages for our clients. We offer traditional biochemical analysis in our studies as well as customized assays. For more information contact
Dr. Joe Cornicelli at the number listed below.
Click Here for More |
|
|
| PRECLINICAL EFFICACY
TESTING IN MODELS OF ARTHRITIS |
MIR
offers preclinical models of inflammation, with a primary focus on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that include collagen induced arthritis (CIA), LPS synchronized CIA and streptococal cell wall models. The company can evaluates therapeutic
agents in mouse and rat models of arthritis and is developing specialized clinically translatable imaging methods to track disease progression. MIR also has models for osteoarthritis (rat miniscectomy), delayed type hypersensitivity, experimental autoimmune encephalitis, LPS induced cytokine release, carragenan-induced footpad edema and air-pouch granuloma models. MIR welcomes colaborations for validation
of additional in vivo models. For more information contact
Dr. Joe Cornicelli at the number listed below.
Click Here for More |
|
|
| IMAGING |
MIR
provides efficient and high throughput access to
a number of important imaging technologies. These
include anatomical and functional preclinical MRI,
preclinical PET imaging, preclinical CT imaging,
as well as bioluminescence and fluorescence biophotonic
imaging. In addition to assessment of anticancer
activity, these technologies allow quantitative
evaluation of drug effects at molecular (mechanism
of action) and physiologic levels. Examples include
measurements of blood flow, vascular permeability,
p53 activation, induction of apoptosis, changes
in proliferative fraction and edema. MIR is also
willing to work with clients to develop and adapt
these imaging technologies to better serve clients
needs.
Click Here for More |
|
|
|
| ANGIOGENESIS |
Angiogenesis is the formation of new micro-vessels that provide the added oxygen and nutrients tumors need for continuous growth as well as an avenue for the metastatic spread. Because of this, angiogenesis has become a prime target in the fight against cancer. MIR has a number of preclinical methods for testing compounds that have an anti-angiogenic potential. These services include an improved form of the traditional matrigel plug assay, histological/immunohistochemical methods and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI which is directly translatable to clinical trials.
Click Here for More |
|
|
| PHARMACOKINETICS |
MIR
Preclinical Services is pleased to provide blood
and tissue samples for pharmacokinetic studies in
client laboratories. MIR has also formed alliances
with companies capable of providing full analytical
services, complete pharmacokinetic analysis and
histology services which allows MIR to offer a full
spectrum of services to clients. |
|
|
|
| PHARMACODYNAMICS |
Appropriate
application of pharmacodynamic analysis can dramatically
speed drug discovery and development. The MIR staff
has extensive experience in pharmacodynamic profiling
and has perfected a number of sampling techniques
that ensure reliable pharmacodynamic analysis. As
a contract research organization, we are happy to
provide appropriate samples from animals treated
with drug candidates. In many cases the company
will also have analytical methods already established
and can provide that service as well. We are also
happy to provide advice on profiling strategies,
and translation of these assays to clinical trial.
A number of our proprietary imaging technologies
enable real time assessment of the pharmacodynamic
effects of your drug candidates. |
|
|
|
| HISTOLOGY AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY |
MIR
Preclinical Services offers a wide array of histology and imunnohistochemistry services through Cutting Image Histology, which is located within our facility. Cutting Image Histology, like MIR, is comprised of employees with years of experience working in the large pharmaceutical drug discovery industry. |
|
|
| VALIDATION
OF CLINICAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES |
What
is a clinical biomarker?
A
clinical biomarker is a tool that enables the
clinician to assess treatment success or failure.
The biomarker can be a molecule, or process that
is altered in response to therapy. Ideally, a
biomarker can be assessed by a specific biochemical
assay or by a non-invasive imaging technique.
Non-invasive imaging is the preferred method due
to its broader applicability. The environment
in which the tumor biomarker is detected can be
different; bone, blood (plasma/serum), soft tissue,
brain, etc. and each environment raises different
challenges requiring different methods of quantification.
How
can a biomarker be validated?
A clinical biomarker can
be validated by ensuring that the biomarker is
actually reflective of drug function and therapeutic
response. In a preclinical model, imaging studies
can be used to assess potential clinical biomarkers
by correlation of imaging readouts with histological,
immunohistochemical or biochemical analysis of
the tumor tissue. Similarly, imaging data may
be correlated with traditionally measured changes
in tumor burden to validate surrogate markers
of clinical response (regression, survival, etc.). |
|
|
| MODEL
DEVELOPMENT |
MIR
has a number of proprietary assays, models, and
transgenic animals available for non-exclusive license.
We can also apply these models to your discovery
needs on a fee for service basis. Modification of
these technologies to suit your particular research
needs is also an option. |
|
|
|
| EVALUATION
OF IMAGING CONTRAST AGENTS |
Although
MIR’s primary focus is on cancer drug evaluation,
the availability of a variety of state of the art
imaging technologies at MIR, naturally
lends itself to the evaluation of novel imaging
molecules, and we are eager to apply our expertise
to research problems in this area. |
|
|
|
| INDEPENDENT
RESEARCH |
MIR
is a recognized innovator of drug evaluation technology.
MIR maintains collaborations with a number of institutions
to develop and validate new technologies and cancer
models. MIR can work with clients and academic laboratories
to apply our expertise to their basic research problems
in the areas of cancer therapeutics, cancer drug
evaluation, cancer pharmacology, drug discovery
and imaging. |
|
|
