Tag Archive for: GARDtest

senzagen gard session

SenzaGen is presenting at hosted sessions at Society of Toxicology 56th Annual Meeting in Baltimore March 12-16, 2017

Lund University Scientist Andy Forreryd and SenzaGen CEO Anki Malmborg Hager will give a presentatios about the GARD assay at exhibitor hosted sessions at the Society of Toxicology 56th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, on the 13th and 14th of March.

The meeting promises more than 150 scientific sessions, approximately 350 ToxExpo exhibitors offering you the latest information on services and technology, thousands of abstract presentations, continuing education courses, awards presentations, receptions, career guidance and support, and more.

Presentations details

– Replacement of Animal Testing for CLP/GHS Classification of Skin Sensitizers is now possible using a Modified Genomic GARDskin [OECD TGP 4.106] Assay
SenzaGen presents the latest development towards reliable potency classification of chemicals according to CLP 1A and 1B, taking both LLNA and Human potency data in consideration. The assay is based on GARDskin and utilizes a refined gene expression signature developed specifically for potency categorization with high predictability.

Date: 3/13 Time: 13:30 -14:30  Room: 338

– Advantages with Genome Testing Opening up the Landscape for New Application Possibilities for Sensitization Testing using SenzaGen’s Genomic GARD Assay
SenzaGen’s GARD assay is based on expression analysis of predictive genomic biomarker signatures. Prediction calls of test substances are generated by computational methods based on machine learning. SenzaGen presents their experience in skin and respiratory sensitization testing, working with challenging compounds and mixtures, active substances, potency classification and NOEL interpretation.

Date: 3/14 Time: 13:30-14:30  Room: 338

These session are Exhibitor-Hosted Session. Although not an official part of the SOT Annual Meeting scientific program, its presentation is permitted by the Society.

Attendees are welcomed from researcher community, industry, manufacturers, regulatory agencies, consultants, CROs and every one interested in safety testing of chemical compounds.

From genome-wide arrays to tailor-made biomarker readout – Progress towards routine analysis of skin sensitizing chemicals with GARD.

Toxicol In Vitro. 2016 Dec;37:178-188. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2016.09.013. Epub 2016 Sep 13.

Forreryd A., Zeller K., Lindberg T., Johansson H., Lindstedt M

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) initiated by chemical sensitizers is an important public health concern. To prevent ACD, it is important to identify chemical allergens to limit the use of such compounds in various products. EU legislations, as well as increased mechanistic knowledge of skin sensitization have promoted development of non-animal based approaches for hazard classification of chemicals. GARD is an in vitro testing strategy based on measurements of a genomic biomarker signature. However, current GARD protocols are optimized for identification of predictive biomarker signatures, and not suitable for standardized screening. This study describes improvements to GARD to progress from biomarker discovery into a reliable and cost-effective assay for routine testing. Gene expression measurements were transferred to NanoString nCounter platform, normalization strategy was adjusted to fit serial arrival of testing substances, and a novel strategy to correct batch variations was presented. When challenging GARD with 29 compounds, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy could be estimated to 94%, 83% and 90%, respectively. In conclusion, we present a GARD workflow with improved sample capacity, retained predictive performance, and in a format adapted to standardized screening. We propose that GARD is ready to be considered as part of an integrated testing strategy for skin sensitization.

Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

GARD; In vitro assay; Predictive genomic biomarker signature; Skin sensitization

Link to articel on line

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SenzaGen initiates cooperation with partners in Europe and the US

The final and most important step in SenzaGen’s formal validation process of the sensitization test GARD has now commenced through partnerships with two external laboratories, Eurofins (Germany) and Burleson (USA). These partners will now verify GARD’s reliability and reproducibility, which will allow the test to be carried out by external contract laboratories.

In this Ring Trial SenzaGen’s partners, Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing in Germany and Burleson Research Technologies in the US, will be provided with a number of encoded chemicals to be tested with GARD. The verification of GARD as a robust and reproducible test will open up a new market for SenzaGen, at the same time confirming GARD’s unique characteristics.

“With the validation and verification of GARD as a robust test, we can now promote GARD on a broad front in our priority sectors,” says Anki Malmborg Hager, CEO of SenzaGen.

GARD has previously undergone both scientific and industrial validation. The test method, which is based on an innovative genomic technology, offers an alternative to existing tests at a time when animal testing is increasingly prohibited.

“With a successful Ring Trial we and our existing customers will have further confirmation of GARD’s quality and efficiency, and it will open up new opportunities for us, not least from a regulatory perspective,” says Anki Malmborg Hager, CEO of SenzaGen.

The current validation by Eurofins and Burleson will run during the fall and then be reported to EURL ECVAM for review and approval. The result of the validation will provide additional and enhanced opportunities to introduce GARD at various contract laboratories, thus providing increased market penetration.

For more information:
Anki Malmborg Hager, CEO, SenzaGen AB
E-mail: amh@senzagen.com
Phone: +46 768 284822

Brian Rogers, CEO, SenzaGen Inc
E-mail: brian.rogers@senzagen.com
Phone: +1 530 304 7648

About Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing, Munich
Eurofins is one of the world’s largest laboratory groups with over 23,000 employees in 39 countries and more than 225 laboratories worldwide. The company offers comprehensive service that include testing of drug substance, final product, intermediates, and starting materials for both small and large molecule drug products as well as chemical and microbiological analyses in agriculture, food and environment.

About Burleson Research Technologies
Burleson Research Technologies (BRT) is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) in North Carolina that provides laboratory services to clients from the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical manufacturing, government, and healthcare industries with proof-of-concept, preclinical, and clinical immunotoxicology studies.

About GARD
By analyzing 200 and 389 markers, depending on the test, GARD generates massive amounts of data and delivers results with 90 % prediction accuracy. This can be compared to the gold standard, animal tests in mice, that provides 72 % prediction. SenzaGen’s test also has the ability to measure potency (strength) of a substance and can thus determine the degree to which a substance is an allergen.

About SenzaGen
SenzaGen provides dermal and respiratory in vitro testing for the cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries replacing the need for animal testing. The company’s unique test, GARD, is based on research from the Department of Immuno Technology at Lund University. SenzaGen is based at Medicon Village in Lund, Sweden.

 

Press release in pdf

 

 

djurfria allergitester

SenzaGen receives Honorary Prize in PwC’s annual Innovation Award

In the competition for This year’s Innovation appointed by PwC and Lund Innovation Systems, Malin Lindstedt and Anki Malmborg Hager at SenzaGen gets the Honorary Prize and is awarded 50.000 SEK.

At the awards ceremony held at Lund City Hall the winner received a prize of SEK 150 000 and two other projects; SenzaGen “Animal free allergy test” and Erghis “Touchless Interaction in Healthcare” received a Honorary prize for their inventions.

Congratulations to Malin and Anki for their great achievements of innovative research and commercialisation of the invention of high relevance for the industry.

SenzaGen AB, a diagnostic spin-off company from Lund University, reports the launch of a new product for respiratory sensitization testing

SenzaGen AB is a diagnostic company working to replace animal testing for sensitization predictions.

“Sensitization through the lung is a growing issue and methods to predict if a chemical has a sensitization effect are limited”, says Anki Malmborg Hager, CEO in SenzaGen. Based on extensive research about the responses of the immune system in allergic reactions, SenzaGen has now launched a test that predicts the respiratory sensitization ability of chemicals based on the GARD methodology.

An international scientific article about the underlying research has been published in PLOS ONE, under the title “Prediction of Chemical Respiratory Sensitizers Using GARD, a Novel In vitro Assay Based on a Genomic Biomarker Signature”. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118808

SenzaGen´s first product, a skin sensitization test of chemicals, is already on the market.

Press release in pdf

 

henrik johansson senior scientist

Dr. Henrik Johansson, scientist and COO of SenzaGen AB, was awarded the LUSH Young Researcher Award 2014.

“The project for which Dr. Johansson was awarded, the Lush Prize Young Researcher Award, describes the development and use of the novel test method GARD – Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection, an assay for assessment of chemical sensitizers.

…GARD utilises an in vitro model of so-called dendritic cells, a central player in the human immune system. These cells are stimulated with any substances to be tested, and following an incubation time of 24h, the genetic material of the cells are isolated. By measurements of a certain set of genes in the cells, which could be viewed as on/off-switches of the immune response, the eventual risk of the tested substances ability to induce allergy can be predicted.” [Lush Prize Young Researcher http://www.lushprize.org/2014-prize/2014-prize-winners/]

Read more on Lush Prize Young Researcher Award web site