Preclinical R&D Services

Integrated IBD Drug Discovery and Preclinical Studies

Through our cutting-edge technology platform and the strategic coordination of global resources, we are equipped to assist with mechanistic studies, validate new targets, facilitate drug discovery and development, and offer technical support in the advancement of new therapies for IBD.

Integrated IBD Drug Discovery and Preclinical Studies

What Are the Current Challenges in IBD Drug Development?

IBD encompasses a complex spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders that affect millions of individuals worldwide. This condition arises from the intricate interplay of genetic and environmental factors, leading to chronic immune system dysregulation within the gastrointestinal tract. The most prevalent forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and existing drug treatments often fall short in efficacy and can entail negative side effects.

Significant challenges remain in IBD drug development, and further research and innovation are needed to overcome existing barriers.

  • Genetic, environmental, gut barrier, microbial, and immune response interactions complicate targeted therapy development
  • Lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers
  • Difficult to identify precise drug targets
  • Low validity of preclinical study models
  • Long-term efficacy and safety of immunosuppressive agents

Preclinical Process for IBD Drug Development

At Ace Therapeutics, we are proud to offer specialized preclinical IBD services that include both in vitro and in vivo studies. Our research services provide essential support for IBD drug discovery and development programs.

Preclinical Process for IBD Drug Development

What Types of IBD Drugs Can We Develop?

We offer specialized IBD drug development services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our services include target identification and validation, lead optimization, preclinical evaluation, and formulation development, to ensure a smooth progression through each phase of development. Your research is enhanced by the interdisciplinary expertise of our experts and receives unique guidance at every stage of the development process.

What Biomarkers Would You Like to Discover?

From disease identification, through disease monitoring and progression, to understanding how a drug exerts an effect in terms of safety and efficacy, the role of the biomarker is vital. Our team is committed to utilizing cutting-edge technologies and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the results to meet your exploratory biomarker discovery needs.

Serum Biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) , amyloid, gelsolin, oncostatin M (OSM), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)
Serological Biomarkers Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCAs), anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCAs), anti-integrin αvβ6 antibodies
Fecal Biomarkers Calprotectin, calgranulin C, lactoferrin, lipocalin-2
Urine Biomarkers Citrate, hippurate, trigonelline, taurine, succinate, 2-hydroxybutyrate

What Are the Mechanisms of lBD?

Understanding disease pathophysiology is critical to the successful development of clinically useful drugs. As a global leading provider of IBD research services, Ace Therapeutics provides reliable pathogenesis analysis services to help clients analyze gut microbiota and the interaction between innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, we can help you discover potential targets associated with IBD that have not yet been explored.

IBD Immunopathogenesis Analysis

Ace Therapeutics investigates the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the immunopathogenesis of IBD by identifying novel immunogenetic parameters, characterizing heterogeneity parameters, and performing comprehensive multiparametric assessments of different aspects of known disease biology.

Genetic Studies of IBD

Using DNA analysis and sequencing technology platforms, our experienced team of experts can analyze gene-gene interactions, gene-pathway interactions, and gene-environment interactions. We aim to improve the understanding of IBD pathological mechanisms required for the development of new therapeutics.

What Are the Mechanisms of lBD?

Gut Microbiota Analysis

Ace Therapeutics provides state-of-the-art, integrated research solutions for the study of the gut microbiota in IBD, employing advanced metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing technologies. We aim to provide key insights into the pathogenesis of IBD and data to support the development of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapies for IBD.

Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in IBD

Our team of experts can provide in-depth characterization of intestinal epithelial barrier genes in IBD animals, incorporating genetic and transcriptomic approaches to help clients better understand the genes and intestinal epithelial barrier components associated with the disease. We have extensive experience in the analysis of intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction in IBD.

Biospecimen Collection and Analysis for IBD Research

Ace Therapeutics provides customized biospecimen collection and analysis services to meet the needs of research institutions and pharmaceutical companies for their IBD research programs.

Featured Biospecimen Categories

  • Tissue samples from IBD animal models
  • Intestinal contents (Fecal samples)
  • Biofluids, including whole blood, plasma, serum, saliva, and urine
  • Cell samples (e.g., intestinal epithelial cells)

Biospecimen Analysis and Characterization Services

  • Histopathological evaluation of IBD
  • Mechanism analysis of immune-mediated enteropathies
  • Gut microbiome analysis and metabolism studies

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

IBD is also known as “Green Cancer”?

IBD is a chronic autoimmune disease with a complex pathogenesis and a long and recurrent course. Long-term mucosal damage and repair may lead to bowel cancer, which is also known as “green cancer”.

What are the techniques used to analyze the gut microbiome in IBD?

  • Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have provided new perspectives to unravel the complexity of IBD pathogenesis. For example, 16S amplification sequencing has been used to study the difference in microbial composition between the remission and flare phases of IBD.
  • Metagenomic sequencing can reveal changes in microbial communities and the function of the collective microbiome of the human gut.
  • Metatranscriptomics can study the actual gene expression and dynamics of the microbiome in the IBD.
  • The gut microbiome produces small molecule metabolites that modulate the immune system, aid digestion, and maintain the gut barrier. Metabolomics can reveal alterations in metabolites in the gut in IBD and identify abundant chemicals in IBD.
  • Integrating metabolomics and macrogenomics studies can help us capitalize on the link between species and metabolism.

What are the gut microbiome–based therapeutics in IBD?

Gut microbial dysbiosis and loss of immune tolerance to commensal gut bacteria are recognized as critical factors in the pathogenesis of IBD. The overall goal of microbiome-based therapeutics is to restore intestinal microbial balance and attenuate mucosal inflammation in IBD. Current microbiome-based strategies include

  • Antibiotics, directly reduce bacterial overgrowth and can eradicate pathogenic bacteria implicated in IBD.
  • Prebiotics/probiotics/synbiotics. Prebiotics include chemical compounds (e.g., fermentable carbohydrates) that favor the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Probiotics are beneficial, living microorganisms (e.g., Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces). Synbiotics are a combination of pre- and probiotics, which allows for the optimization of the most synergistic combination to select for the growth and survival of the probiotic organisms.
  • Fecal microbial transplant (FMT). FMT involves transplanting stool from healthy donors into patients to restore intestinal microbial balance and treat the underlying disease.

Can imaging techniques be used in IBD research?

Yes, imaging techniques can be used in the study of IBD.

Molecular imaging is characterized by non-invasiveness, specificity, and sensitivity, and provides a powerful tool for early diagnosis of IBD. Currently, commonly used molecular imaging techniques include radionuclide molecular imaging (single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET)), optical molecular imaging ( in vivo microscopy, diffuse optical imaging, confocal imaging, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, etc.), ultrasound molecular imaging and magnetic resonance molecular imaging. Molecular markers include fluorescent proteins and luciferase.

These imaging techniques represent alternatives to ileocolonoscopy for assessing disease activity and closely and accurately monitoring the response to treatment.

Which IBD mouse model should be used to assess the efficacy of therapeutics?

The selection of IBD mouse models is contingent upon the specific target of your therapy and the stage of the disease at which you intend to intervene. For instance, some models are primarily driven by innate immune cells, while others are driven by T cells. Additionally, only certain models can resolution, allowing for the assessment of repair processes, whereas others do not support this capability.

What endpoints do you measure in your models?

Ace Therapeutics provides one-stop services for preclinical pharmacology and efficacy studies of IBD drugs. From routine in-life data collection to a deep dive into the molecular pharmacology of the test compound, the main services include:

  • Recommending suitable IBD models for clients based on test drug targets.
  • In-life experiments for IBD models, including weight change, disease activity index (DAI) score, and colon parameter data acquisition.
  • Colon pathology sectioning and scoring.
  • Studies of immunologic molecular mechanisms (e.g., immune cell subtypes, cytokine detection).
  • Omic analysis of inflammatory pathway mechanisms and multifactors.

Can in vitro assays help with IBD drug development?

If your IBD drug modulates cell behavior in the expected way, in vitro assays using T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, as well as neutrophils to elucidate the mechanism of action. Additionally, epithelial barrier assays can be performed with the co-culture of anaerobic bacteria and the addition of immune cell subsets. In vitro assays can be customized to your needs.