Drug Target Identification
Our ‘molecular landscape building approach’ is an unique method to integrate omics and functional data for any complex disease. Since 2012, we have developed and improved our pipeline for drug target identification and successfully applied this to multiple complex diseases.
UNBIASED & CURATED
Our approach to drug target identification stands out for its commitment to use unbiased and meticulously curated data. By starting from genome-wide omics data, we ensure a comprehensive foundation that is free from any preconceived biases. The curation process involves a rigorous selection of relevant information, ensuring that only the most pertinent data is included in our analyses. This dedication to unbiased and curated data ensures that our pipeline’s outcomes are grounded in sound scientific principles, making it a robust starting point for any drug target exploration.
INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS
Our approach seamlessly integrates various omics data, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and more, to extract meaningful insights. Through the use of cutting-edge bioinformatic tools and techniques we are able to integrate and unravel the intricate relationships between molecular components and pathways underlying any complex disease.
BIOLOGICAL CONSTRUCT
At the core of our approach lies the development and integration of our data within a robust biological construct. This construct serves as the cornerstone for unveiling the intricate mechanisms underlying complex diseases. By leveraging this construct, we unlock novel insights into disease pathology, unearth concealed relationships, and attain a profound comprehension of the involved biological processes. Our utilization of this biological construct goes beyond bioinformatics-only approaches, precisely identifying where these processes occur within tissues or cells. This distinctive aspect not only distinguishes our approach from other approaches, but also substantially enhances its biological validity and accuracy.
MOLECULAR LANDSCAPE
When we visualize all our data in their biological framework, this results in a so called ‘molecular landscape’ of the disease. A molecular landscape shows the cell type- and tissue-specific biological themes, pathways, processes and individual protein-protein interactions underlying a complex disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes or a type of cancer. This enables us to identify previously unknown interactions, pathways and themes that are associated with a given disease, and it also enables us to generate novel hypotheses about the underlying disease mechanisms. By targeting these dysregulated pathways, it is also possible to develop (much more) precise therapies.
DRUG TARGET IDENTIFICATION
We excel in pinpointing potential drug targets for complex diseases. Our pipeline’s output is a refined list of targets, that are important in the molecular landscape and adhere to our five types of specificity. This means that a drug target should meet temporal, symptomatic, regional, molecular and modulatory specificity criteria to be classified as a good target.
The identification of these key drug targets enables researchers and pharmaceutical companies to focus their efforts and resources on developing therapies that have a much higher likelihood of success, ultimately accelerating the pace of drug discovery and improving patient outcomes.
DRUG TARGET DEVELOPMENT
The identification of potential drug targets marks just the initial phase in drug discovery. Our array of services extends to encompass the subsequent stages, including the characterization of a drug target, identification of modulating compounds, as well as in silico and in vivo validation of the identified drug target.
