OnconanoBBB

PPH is represented by Dr Mo Alavijeh. Pharmidex is a solution provider in brain medicines research. Headquartered in London, Pharmidex specializes in predicting and assessing the ability of compounds to cross the permeability barrier between blood and brain – the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) as well as delivery of compounds across the BBB. Pharmidex is the only company in the world offering direct assessment of brain penetrability – NeuroPharmacoKinetics (NeuroPK®). Pharmidex adds value to CNS drug discovery  through it’s innovative screens and patented technologies and underpinned by the Company’s unique ability to integrate neuroscience, DMPK and CNS drug discovery expertise. The co-founders of Pharmidex are world experts in their fields ,in the area of neurodegenerative disorders and their treatment and in Drug Metabolism and Pharmcokinetics (DMPK) and NeuroPK studies, They have substantial drug discovery experience in both pharmaceutical and biotech companies and over 100 papers and patents to their names. Together, they provide a potent blend of experience and expertise in neuroscience, DMPK and CNS drug discovery. This, coupled with the strong team of PhD qualified staff with hands-on experience of brain penetration studies, underlines the leading position Pharmidex occupies in the application of BBB research to CNS drug discovery. Pharmidex has successfully participated in the European projects; FP6 (InnoMEd – Innovative Medicines for Europe, Project number LSHB-CT-2005-518170, an iintegrated life project with 43 partners across Europe for identification of Biomarkers for Alzheimer disease) and FP7 (FP7-IAPP-People-2008, project number 230766 on Biocompatibility of carbon nanoparticles with tissues of the neuromuscular system, NMS-CNT with two other partners across Europe). Pharmidex has also been successful wining the “Service company of the year” award in 2005 form UK Trade and Investment for exquisite delivery of high tech solutions to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies globally from as well as being nominated for the “Best new exporter” international business award in same year.
Pharmidex employs 22 highly qualified scientists (30% PhD, 25% MSc, 45% BSc) and occupies 15,000 square feet of office and laboratory space at the Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, which is part of the Northwick Park Hospital.  With state-of the art laboratories, Pharmidex is equipped and licensed to conduct both in vitro and in vivo studies, including both immortalised and primary cell lines for BBB and DMPK studies along with animal models of CNS disorders, using both rodents and non-rodents.  It has particular expertise in the measurement of the free fraction of neuroactive compounds in brain interstitial fluid using the technique of tissue microdialysis in freely behaving animals. Pharmidex is also set up to assess the side effect liability of potential drugs using techniques, such a locomotor activity monitoring and the rotarod test, as well as  safety pharmacology with telemetry (monitoring heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), ECG and EEG). Its biological assays are supported by a high quality team of bioanalysts with substantial industry experience of monitoring small and macromolecules in biological samples, along with triple quad mass spectrometers (LC-MS/MS), electrochemical detectors (HPLC-ECD), radiometric (RAD-HPLC) flow scintillation analyzers (FSA) and liquid scintillation counter/analyser (LSC/A) for drug and metabolite identification.  Apart from industrial activity Pharmidex is an unusual biotech in that the company is active in publishing and collaborating with academics. Both founders of the company are also honouree lectures to MSc students at university of London and currently Pharmidex is sponsoring one PhD and two MSc students.