The tedious procedures of laboratory chermistry are being
overshadowed by machines that combine the power of computers, lasers,
optical reading systems and robotics.
The whole effort is expressed in a catchall phrase that is heard
very often: "high throughput screening" (HTS). Hundreds or thousands
of chemical targets are arrayed on a tray or slide and subjected to
very rapid analysis. For example, if a researcher wished to test
hundreds of patented drug molecules, looking for those that bind to a
docking site on a protein, a machine of this sort would do the job in
hours.
Each well of chemicals could be tagged with a fluorescent marker and
the protein under study would be added to miniaturized test tubes of
the experimental array. A reaction would give off light that can be
easily read electromechanically and translated onto a computer data
base.
The company has developed an ability to screen for a previously
undetectable indication: of non-cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs. These
drugs encompass most of the therapeutic mechanisms presently regarded
as the future of anti-cancer therapy, such as oncogenic signal
inhibition, malignancy reversions and differentiation therapy, while
excluding the conventional ineffective cytotoxic, cytostatic and
apoptosis inducing drugs.
By implementing this highly innovative approach, Zetiq has already
generated an impressive number of hits against colon cancer. Dr. Dan
Gelvan, Zetiq's founder and CEO, is a supporter of joint venturing
early in the career of young companies. He is currently negotiating
just such a relationship with as yet an unidentified company.