Genedata Announces New Data Analysis Platform for Next-Gen Oncology Drug Discovery at SLAS2014

Genedata, a leading provider of advanced software solutions for drug discovery and life science research, announced that, at SLAS2014, it will showcase results from its collaboration with AstraZeneca on the data analysis of compound combination experiments.

This collaboration created the new Genedata Screener® for Compound Combinations platform, which provides for high-throughput combination screening capabilities within AstraZeneca's Oncology iMed unit. Automating and standardizing the data analysis of combination screening experiments, Genedata Screener for Compound Combinations accelerates discovery of new compound combination therapies by enabling high-throughput combination profiling. The platform will be featured in a joint poster session, and Genedata Screener for Compound Combinations will be previewed in two tutorials and demonstrated at the 3rd Annual SLAS at the San Diego Convention Center (Booth #551; January 20-22).

Experiment Scope Extended in Single-Platform Solution
Genedata Screener is used by the majority of the top 25 global pharmaceutical companies as their main platform for the analysis and management of all plate-based screening data. Capitalizing on the open architecture of Genedata Screener and its proven efficiency in a broad range of screening workflows, the Genedata collaboration with AstraZeneca extends Genedata Screener functionality to a new range of applications of increasing importance for innovative oncology research.

Identifying effective and disease-specific combinations of cancer therapies through in vitro cell-based assays requires industrial-scale screening. As the number of tests increases exponentially with the number of compounds in a study, a high-throughput screening infrastructure with automated yet flexible analytical tools is needed for rapid profiling of even a modest number of drugs in combination studies. For example, testing all combinations of 30 compounds across 20 cell lines requires screening of over 9,000 384-well plates, which presents a computational challenge with weeks of data analysis. This data analysis bottleneck is removed by Genedata Screener for Combination Screening. It quickly analyzes screening results with standardized yet customizable parameter settings to calculate, combine, and visualize experimental data and identify the best combinations. Within hours versus weeks, researchers have scientifically validated results.

The new platform enables analysis of all experimental data generated throughout the process -- from raw instrument data to final synergy score calculations for all combinations in a study. While it offers an advanced degree of automation, efficiency and integration with an existing screening data infrastructure, Genedata Screener also provides interactive data quality assessment and continuous data review. Results scoring uses various published mathematical models (i.e. HSA, Loewe, Bliss), and new, yet reliable, methods for determining response surfaces deliver fast, accurate and robust assessments of synergistic effects.

"Our successful collaboration with AstraZeneca demonstrates our expertise in solving complex data analysis challenges, drives the development of Genedata Screener as the platform of choice for all plate-based screening data analysis, and shows how we create sustainable and cost-effective solutions for our customers," noted Dr. Othmar Pfannes, CEO of Genedata. "We are committed to a business model that delivers innovative data analysis procedures, enabling our customers to become more efficient in their research processes and maximizing the return on investments in their technology platforms."

SLAS Poster Session:
"Accelerating Discovery of Novel Drug Combination Therapies Using High-Throughput Combination Profiling - Challenges and Effective Solutions;" Eric Tang, Associate Principle Scientist, AstraZeneca; Stephan Heyse, Head of Genedata Screener, Genedata, et al.
SLAS Tutorials:
January 20; 2:00pm - 2:45pm: "Genedata Screener: Mastering complex screening technologies"
January 21; 2:00pm - 2:45pm: "Genedata Screener Compound Synergy Extension: Complex raw data to transparent results in less than 30 minutes"