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Biomarker discovery has been and remains a key to advancing treatments in healthcare. The majority of the science in this area has relied on antibody production with the introduction of human recombinant proteins into animals followed by subsequent harvesting for antibody development. The use of polyclonals to support affinity-based assays require constant production of antibodies in animals to support commercial applications. 

Our Aptamarker platform does not involve the use of any animals as it is based on synthetic DNA oligonucleotides that are chemically synthesized and applied for biomarker discovery directly on biological samples from human patients. Moreover, the Aptamarker platform represents a paradigm shift from traditional biomarker discovery approaches because the platform is not based on the training of probes against recombinant proteins. A deep library of the same 268 million probes is applied to each sample. These are trained on the samples to provide information about the structure and nature of proteins as they exist in vivo. The biological basis of pathology is not found in the canonical forms of monomeric recombinant proteins; pathologies arise from changes in the functionality of these proteins as they exist within complexes with other proteins. The Aptamarker is the only tool capable of characterizing these changes in any protein in any species.

The Centre for Animal-Free Biomedical Translation, CPBT,  is a national Dutch centre for valorizing and disseminating animal-free innovations and expertise. It aims to improve and accelerate the transition of new biomedical innovations to patients and users, at lower costs, and without the use of animals. This will lead to safer, more effective, and better medicines while reducing animal testing. Together with a large number of national and international partners, the CPBT will work on the development and dissemination of animal-free biomedical innovations and expertise. The diverse consortium includes academic scientists, lecturers and researchers from universities of applied sciences, industry partners, regulatory agencies, patient organizations, government bodies, and NGOs. The initial transition projects will focus on ALS, cystic fibrosis, osteoarthritis/rheumatic diseases, and asthma/COPD. The CPBT will implement  and developed methods, tools, and expertise together with researchers and companies. The new centre will also offer education, training, advice, and support to enhance the acceptance and use of animal-free biomedical innovations. Combined, the CPBT will run an integrated program that accelerates the transition to animal-free testing and strengthens the Dutch economy.

We are very excited to be partners with the CPBT initiative on the development of animal free technologies for research and development in healthcare.

More information at  https://site.cpbt.nl/