MD Biosciences Blog

MD Biosciences, a Preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), offers in vivo models for the study of Parkinson's Disease (PD). The 6-OHDA and acute MPTP models for PD have been well characterized with the underlying mechanisms of toxicity well understood. Both models are useful tools in evaluating potential neuroprotective therapies providing the ability to target any differences in motor activities and determine whether a drug differentially affects a specific motor behavior.

Parkinson's Disease Background 
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is typically an adult-onset progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Pathologically, PD is characterized by the profound and specific loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of the midbrain. Other areas interconnected with the SNpc, the caudate and putamen, collectively known as the striatum, also show remarkable loss of their projection fibers. In accordance with insult to brain regions involved in controlling coordinated movements, the cardinal symptoms of PD include bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability. Due to its complex pathology, however, no disease model has yet to faithfully replicate all aspects of human PD. Converging lines of evidence from toxin-induced and genetic models have continued to further our understanding of the pathological processes underlying PD and lend themselves as useful systems for the examination of therapeutic interventions.

PD Whitepaper & Preclinical Efficacy Studies 
MD Biosciences has released a new whitepaperdiscussing the various efficacy models of PD, the underlying mechanisms of each model and their usefulness as tools for the development of new therapies and interventions. Additionally, MD Biosciences offers these classical models of PD as contracted research studies as part of our portfolio of Neurology Discovery Services. A copy of the whitepaper "What in vivo models have revealed about the pathogenesis and treatment of PD" can be downloaded at http://www.mdbiosciences.com

About MD Biosciences 
MD Biosciences is a Preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing services and products for biotech/pharmaceutical, medical device and animal health and companies engaged in inflammations & neurology research. With specialized laboratories located in Minnesota, Glasgow, and Israel, our panel of internationally recognized experts provides in-depth expertise and technologies to overcome challenges and provide total solutions to the drug discovery market.

The information in this press release should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release. MD Biosciences has no intention of updating and specifically disclaims any duty to update the information in these press releases.

MD Biosciences, a preclinical CRO focused in pain and inflammations, has released a new eBook discussing the interactions between the nervous and immune systems and the drug targets that may lie in the overlap. This newly published eBook is meant to be a review of the immune system and inflammation as it relates to pain, specifically neuropathic pain and covers the following: 

•     Immune system and Inflammation
•     Pain processing and Neuropathic Pain
•     Cell types involved in neuro-inflammation aspect of neuropathic pain
•     Potential inflammation-related drug targets for neuropathic pain
•     Relevant preclinical models for neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain presents a wide variety of challenges to researchers, not the least of which is the simple fact that neuropathic pain, by definition, requires neuronal damage, which in turn automatically initiates an immune response that often inflicts further damage.

The interactions between the immune and nervous systems in the case of neuropathic pain make for a very complex story that is only beginning to unfold. Fortunately, a variety of good preclinical neuropathic pain models for the simulation of neuropathic pain in humans have been used for some time and enable researchers to advance our understanding of disease mechanisms in the preclinical setting. Currently, existing pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain, which address predominately neuronal targets, include opioid analgesics, tricyclic antidepressants and cation channel blockers among others. However these drugs treat symptoms and thus only provide temporary relief and are fraught with undesirable side effects such as tolerance and dependence. As the field of neuroimmunology progresses, it is possible that inflammation-associated drug targets may open to new and more effective treatments for neuropathic pain.

About MD Biosciences 
MD Biosciences is a Preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing services biotech/pharmaceutical, medical device and animal health and companies engaged in inflammations, neurology, pain and cardiovascular research. Our scientists are specialized and focused within these areas to provide a deep understanding of mechanisms involved, which enables them to contribute to study design and recommendations. We understand the challenges of filling and progressing product pipelines with limited budgets, time and resources. We also understand the importance of choosing a preclinical CRO that is the right fit with your organization. You’ll find that when working with MD Biosciences, we are focused on the science behind your programs to enable smarter and more efficient study designs aimed to meet your objectives.

The information in this press release should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release. MD Biosciences has no intention of updating and specifically disclaims any duty to update the information in these press releases. The eBook is meant to be an overview and should not be taken as comprehensive or definitive.

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MD Biosciences, a global biotechnology company focused in inflammations research, has optimized ArthritoMabTM Antibody Cocktail for the induction of arthritis in C57Bl/6. Using the optimized ArthritoMab Antibody Cocktail, investigators can induce arthritis in C57Bl/6 strains with as little as 2 mg of antibody and see good clinical disease scores as well as pannus formation, bone erosion, hyperplasia and cellular infiltration at the histological level. A detailed whitepaper covering the ArthritoMabTM antibody cocktail, protocols and data using various strains and positive control is available for complimentary download.

The optimized ArthritoMabTM antibody cocktail relies on the same four clones of antibody selected for use in the original cocktail, allowing researchers to continue to obtain comparative data without introducing unknown variables caused by additional antibody clones. The monoclonal antibody clones in the cocktail were selected to bind to C1, J1, U1 and D3 epitopes, which are well documented epitopes associated with arthritis in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. These epitopes are also spread across the entire CII region (fragments CB8, CB10 and CB11) to encourage better immune complex formation on the cartilage surface for initiation of arthritis.

With the increase in use of transgenic strains such as C57Bl/6 for the study of arthritis, investigators are often faced with low incidence rates in the CIA model. Alternatively, while the Collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) has been a good alternative for increasing the rates of incidence, often times the amount of antibody required in C57 strains is cost prohibitive. MD Bioproducts has optimized the ArthritoMabTM antibody cocktail enabling investigators to achieve high incidence rates (100%) in C57 strains while controlling costs in the amount of antibody required (as little as 2 mg of Antibody).

For years, the CIA model has been the standard for arthritis studies. Issues such as length of model, staggered disease onset, low disease induction, lab to lab variations, number of administration timepoints and clinical scoring periods caused researchers to look for a viable alternative. The collagen antibody induced arthritis model (AIA or CAIA) using ArthritoMabTM Antibody Cocktail is a reliable alternative providing results in just 12 days, high rates of incidence and synchronized disease onset.

About MD Biosciences 
MD Biosciences provides products and pre-clinical services for companies engaged in inflammations and neurology research. The company is headquartered in Switzerland under Morwell Diagnostics and has specialized laboratories located in Minnesota, Glasgow, and Israel. A panel of scientific experts provides companies’ in-depth expertise and technologies to tackle problems and provide flexible drug discovery solutions, enabling smarter results faster.

About MD Bioproducts 
MD Bioproducts is a division of MD Biosciences offering products in inflammation, neurology, cancer and immunology research. For those who have internal in vivo capabilities, MD Bioproducts makes available the ArthritoMabTM Antibody cocktail along with full technical support for establishing the protocol in house. For additional information on products offered, visit http://www.mdbioproducts.com.

The information in this press release should be considered accurate only as of the date of the release. MD Biosciences has no intention of updating and specifically disclaims any duty to update the information in these press releases.

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