To mark its 10th anniversary, Drug Discovery & Development magazine invited industry vendors to reflect on the history and made predictions about future of the industry. Featured here are verbatim comments from this company.
High Throughput Genomics (HTG)
Headquarters
Tucson, Ariz
Location(s)
Tucson, Ariz. and Madison, Wis.
Years in Drug Research
11 Years
Spokesperson
Tim (TJ) Johnson
Web site
About the company
High Throughput Genomics (HTG) develops and markets products that increase the precision, efficiency and success of gene expression analysis in basic research, agricultural research, drug discovery, clinical development, and enables powerful diagnostic assays, improving lives worldwide.
The company’s line of business as it was 10 years ago. Changes in life science/drug research that influenced business.
Ten years ago, HTG was focused on the development of its first commercial microplate product. HTG implemented signal-amplification chemiluminescent detection, a lysis-only protocol, and employed nuclease protection arrays to achieve high sample throughput and precision. HTG believed signatures of two to 15 genes would be sufficient, but now most investigators believe signatures of two to 20 genes are sufficient. In the past ten years the genome was sequenced and limitations in precision of PCR and the inability to measure mRNA from FFPE has been recognized. Thus, the industry has moved into HTG’s sweet spot and appreciates the precision and robustness of the company’s product line.
Scientific challenges in the next 10 years.
HTG will launch its array product line, providing an integrated solution from target/biomarker identification through application assay for mRNA/miRNA with as good precision than biochemical enzyme assays, for any sample.
Factor(s) that drove the development of technologies during the last 10 years and greatest area of growths.
Investigators can put any set of genes into an assay with confidence that the intended gene or polymorphism is being measured and can validate this experimentally. Recognition that extraction is a major limitation, PCR is difficult to multiplex, and that there is need for precision in the measurement of gene expression, has driven adoption of qNPA.
Bold Prediction: Where will drug research technology be in 10 years?
In ten years gene expression based drug discovery programs could make up a third of the portfolio of progressive drug discovery companies. M3 series products will have also enabled early-stage QSAR metabolism/tox, reducing time-to-IND. NDA success rates will be improved by these qNPA applications, by using gene expression assays to select patients for trial based on prognostic outcome and to monitor efficacy. The diagnostic landscape will include numerous gene expression-based tests, including companion diagnostics, providing better information to select best therapy, and focusing treatment on patients who will benefit, thus reducing risk of drug withdrawn from the market due to adverse side effects in patients who derive no benefit. Overall, faster, better, safer drug discovery and development, and clinical use.
