Nexxus Scotland

Scottish Biomedical

Scottish Biomedical is a pre-clinical drug discovery services company, focusing exclusively on early stage drug research.

Combining expertise in cell systems biology with medicinal chemistry, Scottish Biomedical has achieved considerable success in drug discovery collaborations with a range of pharmaceutical/biotech clients worldwide.

Based at the West of Scotland Science Park near Glasgow in Scotland, the company's origins are as a "fixer" of collaborations between life sciences organisations and academics.  As a private company since 1994, Scottish Biomedical now employs more than fifty researchers and has been profitable since inception.

In addition to capabilities and expertise in the area of human tissue acquisition, molecular biology and protein technology, Scottish Biomedical has built a formidable reputation for primary and secondary assay development, high-throughput and high-content screening, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology.    

One of the company's first collaborations was with the respected Kyorin organisation in Tokyo during the early 1990s and the Kyorin Scotland Research Lab (KSRL) is still active today. Scottish Biomedical has also gone on to work successfully with many other drug discovery partners in Japan, India, Korea, Europe and the US.

It is the combination of knowledge of chemistry and biology which has given Scottish Biomedical such a potent role within the life science industry, according to Business Development Director, Simon Bury. Also, their firm commitment that the intellectual property arising from any discoveries in early stage drug development remains firmly with their clients.

Alongside a constant bank of ethically acquired human tissue, (both normal and diseased), the company also maintains an extensive library of drug-like, small compounds. This facilitates the ability of scientists at Scottish Biomedical to investigate and improve the qualities of compounds potentially active in treating particular conditions.

Simon Bury says, "During the pre-clinical drug research process, we may have several possible start points. Our job is to find active compounds and to optimise those compounds and make them more drug-like. We will also identify specific genes which may potentially be useful in the therapeutic process and offer validated evidence that a particular gene is involved with the particular condition under investigation."

Scottish Biomedical's scientists are also experts in signal transduction, and have the ability to link their knowledge of cell systems to the desirable characteristics of drug targets and candidates.

The complex interactions of Scottish Biomedical's research brief means that they have to employ some of the most flexible and well-rounded scientists in the industry. Simon Bury insists that their base in the West of Scotland is a real plus; identifying Scotland as "The number one region in Europe for its concentration of quality scientists."

"The quality of our researchers is all. Our partners like the fact that we provide excellent starting points to progress investigations but it is our grasp of biology, chemistry and the interaction between both which sets us apart."

"Our clients range from big pharma companies, through large and medium biotech organisations, to quite small operations looking for help to grow and develop with whom we enjoy excellent relationships and an enviable amount of repeat business. This comes down purely to the quality of our people and our processes."  

Through their research and collaborations so far, Scottish Biomedical has played an active part in one programme which has reached Phase II, a further two programmes are at Phase I trials and a fourth programme entered clinical trials during 2005. The company is also currently involved with twelve programmes at various stages of pre-clinical development.

One of several exciting avenues of research is into the progression of Alzheimer's Disease and scientists at Scottish Biomedical are confident that they have identified a novel protein which could pave the way towards a cure for the condition.

By comparing the levels of a particular gene in normal human brains with individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, their scientists were able to determine a link between the gene and lower levels of a protein - which could hold the key to how the disease develops.

Dr Stephen Hammond, Chief Executive of Scottish Biomedical, said "This is a whole new way of looking at Alzheimer's Disease. Treatment to date has only really targeted the symptoms of the condition as opposed to tackling the root cause. We believe that a drug which activates this protein could potentially lead to an effective treatment."

Scottish Biomedical continues to go from strength to strength, not least because its innovative scientists continue to widen their knowledge by investigating unique tools such as enzyme (PDE) effects on a speculative basis. These can then be offered to clients as fast-tracked starting points in pre-clinical research. 

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