New modalities are frequently discussed in the biological and pharmaceutical industries as they are vital components in drug development, treatment plans, and therapeutic applications. In simple terms, a newly developed group of molecules are being used to address regulatory challenges and biological processes, in which the efficacy, quality and safety of new medical strategies are monitored. Throughout this blog post, we will provide an overview of novel modalities and their role in the pharmaceutical industry.
What are Novel Modalities?
In the 1980s and 1990s, several categories of novel drugs were introduced as the biotechnology industry was born. These new small molecule drugs include recombinant proteins, therapeutic antibodies and RNA, and some of them have been used in life-changing treatments of cancer, infectious diseases, and other disorders. Some of the critical novel modalities include:
- Antibodies
- Aptamers
- Antisenses
- Cyclopeptides
- Drug conjugates
- RNAs
These modalities work against certain parts of a cell in the body. Their intervention could be in the form of binding to receptors or ligands or binding themselves to proteins to prevent them from functioning correctly.
Applications of Novel Modalities
Novel modalities can be used in new biologics to treat complex diseases that have previously been untreatable with therapy. Many of these new modalities, such as RNA-based approaches and conjugates, have been through clinical development and finally reached regulatory approval. They now play a crucial role in drug discovery and development and have endless therapeutic potential.
Aptamers for In Vivo Bioimaging
Aptamers are used to treat cancers, infections, tumours and many other diseases. However, they are also advantageous in in vivo bioimaging which is crucial for diagnosing diseases and detecting therapy responses in patients. Aptamers can be used in conjunction with fluorescent dyes or radioisotopes to enhance their properties in bioimaging.
CAR-T Therapy
CAR-T is an innovative immunotherapy treatment where a patient’s blood is effectively engineered to fight cancer. The process works by taking T cells from a patients blood which are then modified in the lab by inserting the CAR protein. These CAR-T cells are then cultivated and infused into the patient, where they actively attack cancer cells in the body.
Drug Conjugates for Cancer Treatment
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are also used as a form of chemotherapy in which chemotherapy agents are delivered to cancer cells. The benefit of this method is that ADCs do not target or damage healthy cells, as with traditional chemotherapy.
RNA Therapeutics for Cancer Treatment
RNA-based therapeutics is a category of drugs that continues to develop. These drugs will revolutionize how many diseases are treated and provide more suitable medication for many patients. Under the term RNA-based therapeutics, you will find antisense oligonucleotides, apatmers and forms of RNAs which are being developed for the treatment of different types of cancer.
Novel Modalities Solutions with Synexa
Synexa has years of experience developing custom assay solutions for novel modalities and developing and validating assays to meet your requirements. We believe in staying at the forefront of developing and implementing strategies which are key in analysing newly developed therapies, especially biosimilars, cell and gene therapies, and vaccines.
If you would like more information on the applications of new modalities please contact our specialists here
