Laval, Quebec, March 23, 2021 – WCCT Global, an Altasciences company, announced the expansion of their clinical pharmacology unit and laboratory earlier this year. Today, Altasciences confirms the unit dosed its first study participants.

The expansion added 5,000 square feet of configurable clinical trial facilities. This further ensures participants have access to a socially distanced, comfortable space in which to complete study procedures. An additional 700 square feet of lab space was also added. Read the original press release.

 “We are thrilled to be able to provide more functional space for our study participants and staff, and create a dosing environment that can support blinded administrations of medications. This expansion increases unit capacity, operational efficiency, and freedom of movement. We look forward to showcasing our brand-new expansion to our clients and for our subjects to have added comfort during their participation at our site,” said Dr. David Nguyen, Chief Medical and Operations Officer at WCCT Global, an Altasciences company.

Chris Perkin, CEO of Altasciences, adds: “The dosing of the first participants in our West Coast clinic expansion is an important milestone in the evolution of our clinical trial offerings, for both long-term stays and outpatient visits. We are excited to see it come to fruition, and contribute to Altasciences’ continued growth to support early-stage drug development.”

Altasciences acquired WCCT Global on February 12, 2021, adding a third clinical location to existing facilities in Kansas City, U.S.A. and Montreal, Canada. Read the acquisition press release.

About Altasciences
Altasciences is a forward-thinking, mid-size contract research organization offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services. For over 25 years, Altasciences has been partnering with sponsors to help support educated, faster, and more complete early drug development decisions. Altasciences’ integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, and data management, all customizable to specific sponsor requirements. Altasciences helps sponsors get better drugs to the people who need them, faster.

CONTACT:
Julie-Ann Cabana
Altasciences
514 601-9763
jcabana@altasciences.com

Laval, Quebec, March 17, 2021– Altasciences, working with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), has qualified a quantitative serological assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, to support vaccine development in studies from discovery to Phase II.

The development of this assay represents an important endpoint in vaccine development, serving to ensure an antibody immune response is generated against the vaccine, and the response ultimately correlates with neutralization of the COVID-19 virus. 

Dr. Lynne Le Sauteur, Vice President, Laboratory Sciences, shares what makes this assay qualification unique: “This assay is different from other developments in that it is quantitative, giving an indication of the magnitude of the antibody response, where other assays typically provide qualitative yes/no results. The assay was qualified in a GLP laboratory, using a source of spike protein that is reliably and robustly produced in Canada. We are proud of the success of this qualification, which could not have been achieved without seamless teamwork, scientific expertise in vaccine assay development, and the source of study subject patient serum from Altasciences’ clinics (both with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection) that were needed to qualify the assay. It was a truly collaborative achievement.”

Altasciences has over 260 laboratory sciences experts specialized in bioanalysis, ligand binding assays, mass spectrometry, immunology, biomarkers and molecular biology generating the quality data needed for successful preclinical to clinical drug and vaccine development.

Altasciences worked with the NRC to test various antigens and select the best reagents for the assay. In addition, the NRC produced and characterized the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that was used in the testing.
 

About Altasciences
Altasciences is a forward-thinking, mid-size contract research organization offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services. For over 25 years, Altasciences has been partnering with sponsors to help support educated, faster, and more complete early drug development decisions. Altasciences’ integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, and data management, all customizable to specific sponsor requirements. Altasciences helps sponsors get better drugs to the people who need them, faster.

CONTACT:
Julie-Ann Cabana
Altasciences
514 601-9763
jcabana@altasciences.com

Laval, Quebec, March 12, 2021 – Altasciences is proud to have conducted preclinical studies for Verve Therapeutics that support the development and advancement of Verve’s gene editing approach to treating cardiovascular diseases. Altasciences’ Seattle team performed intravenous preclinical studies, including supporting analyses of pharmacodynamic markers and whole liver DNA editing, in non-human primates, that show that a single intravenous infusion of Verve’s gene editor achieved a 59% reduction in blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at two weeks, which has been maintained beyond six months post treatment. No adverse events were reported during the study and in studies of primary human hepatocytes, clear evidence of on-target editing was observed.

“We are excited to have supported the advancement of Verve’s gene editors for cardiovascular disease, and to have contributed to the development of an entirely new approach to treating heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death among men and women worldwide,” says Mike Broadhurst, General Manager of Altasciences’ preclinical facility. 

More information on Verve Therapeutics’ program can be found here.

About Altasciences
Altasciences is a forward-thinking, mid-size contract research organization offering pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies a proven, flexible approach to preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies, including formulation, manufacturing, and analytical services. For over 25 years, Altasciences has been partnering with sponsors to help support educated, faster, and more complete early drug development decisions. Altasciences’ integrated, full-service solutions include preclinical safety testing, clinical pharmacology and proof of concept, bioanalysis, program management, medical writing, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, and data management, all customizable to specific sponsor requirements. Altasciences helps sponsors get better drugs to the people who need them, faster.

CONTACT:
Julie-Ann Cabana
Altasciences
514 601-9763
jcabana@altasciences.com