Tocris launches Target Detective
The new Target Detective search engine provides a wealth of chemical and biological information that connects receptor, enzyme, protein and gene data to chemicals through a collection of comprehensive 'Target files' so that researchers can rapidly identify relevant research tools.
The collection currently lists antagonists, inhibitors and agonists for over 120 different targets from nearly 20 different target families.
According to Dr Duncan Crawford, Tocris’ Chief Scientific Officer, the company realised that life science researchers were struggling to locate chemical agents that act on receptors because most suppliers do not offer the option of locating the chemicals by searching for the target they work on.
“Tocris’ original market was supplying pharmacologists with biologically active molecules. However, since the genomic revolution researchers have become so accustomed to knocking down genes using antisense methods that they often overlook small molecule inhibitors,” said Dr Crawford.
“This may seem surprising considering the large number of small molecule pharmaceuticals that exist that act on specific targets.”
He continued by explaining that while there are often difficulties in delivering antisense products and working with gene knockdown mice, small molecule inhibitors can be easily delivered and are often as specific and efficacious as more complicated biological agents.
“Tocris’ products are often used to assess gene function in normal and disease states and enabling biological researchers to search for chemical agents by the target codes they are familiar with is enabling us to reintroduce chemical inhibitors to molecular biologists,” said Dr Crawford.
The latest addition to the product line was announced earlier this week, when the firm signed an exclusive deal with AstraZeneca to supply Gefitinib (Iressa or ZD1839) to preclinical researchers working on the underlying mechanisms of cancer development.
Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) which blocks the activity of an enzyme that regulates intracellular signalling pathways implicated in cancer cell proliferation and survival.
“We know that there is a great deal of interest in Gefitinib from the global research community. By making fully licensed Gefitinib available through our catalogue, we hope to promote new and exciting research in the fundamental processes that drive cancer development,” said Dr Crawford.
The company has seen significant investment since it underwent a management buyout (MBO) in January 2007, with the company re-entering the custom synthesis business as well as launching Tocriscreen Total and increasing the functionality of its website.
According to Laurence Ede, managing director of Tocris Bioscience, the MBO has created a more entrepreneurial culture throughout the company and allowed the firm to invest in new facilities and equipment.
“The majority of staff now have shares or share options in Tocris and everyone is focussed on making the business the very best that it can be,” said Ede.
“We've also become ever more responsive to our customer's needs, more closely matching our new product introductions to their research and further improving our levels of customer service, assurance and support.”
This has enabled the firm to maintain strong revenue growth despite the global credit crunch that has affected many laboratory suppliers.
“Sales in the current quarter are 15% higher than the equivalent period last year for example, so we're continuing our track record of growth,” said Ede.
“Exciting new reagents always generate their own sales momentum of course, but equally importantly we know that our customers continue to demand the Tocris brand for established products too, as alternative suppliers are generally either too expensive, advertise reagents they don't have in stock or sell cheap low-quality products which simply aren't reliable.”
Ede attributes the success of its new custom synthesis offering on the trust that customers have of their catalogue products.
“Our track record in the industry shows we have the skills to undertake projects which are beyond the capability of many other custom suppliers, and that we reliably deliver on time and to specification,” said Ede.
“Tocris' long-standing refusal to infringe pharmaceutical patents by adding unlicensed products to our range stands us in good stead in the custom synthesis business too; these customers know that we do the right thing and that they can trust us with even their most sensitive projects. These differentiating factors have helped us grow the business, not just with big pharma but also amongst smaller biotechs and even academic institutions.”
