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TetraQ is rapidly growing and expanding its offering to clients. Please check out this website for the latest additions and news at TetraQ, or subscribe to our mailing list by emailing
Rose-marie Pennisi at r.pennisi@tetraq.com.au.
Latest News & Announcements:
Preclinical Seminar Series Registration
14 August 2008
The First Melbourne Preclinical Drug Development Workshop to be hosted by Professor Evan Siegel, President & CEO of Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals, California, USA.
Sponsored by TetraQ & Nucleus Network.
Preclinical Drug Development Seminar Series Thursday14th August 2008
13 May 2008
Successful launch of the Preclinical Drug Development Seminar Series "Getting to the IND"
This event was well attended by 50 delegates who came from proffessional and academic segments of the Australian biopharmaceutic industry.
TetraQ - Q-Pharm strategic alliance boosts biopharmaceutical service delivery
13 June 2008
TetraQ, the integrated preclinical contract research provider based at The University of Queensland (UQ), and Q-Pharm, a leading early phase clinical trial facility in Australasia, have formed a strategic alliance to enhance the delivery of bioanalytical services to clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
The alliance is considered to be a positive development for the two businesses, which are both commercialization enterprises of the University facilitating industry access to UQ’s cutting-edge research resources and expertise.
TetraQ is a leading contract research organization that offers a broad range of preclinical services to the biopharmaceutical industry. A component of TetraQ’s services includes bioanalytical services supporting clinical studies (including bioavailability/ bioequivalence and drug-drug interaction studies).
Q-Pharm is a Phase 1 clinical trial provider, servicing the early phase trial requirements of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in Australia and around the world.
According to Q-Pharm CEO, Professor Wayne Hooper, the alignment of the two organizations at the interface of the preclinical and early phase clinical stages of the drug development pathway presents significant opportunities for capturing operational economies, co-marketing of services and cross-referral of potential clients.
“Since 2002 Q-Pharm has been one of Australia’s foremost providers of bioanalytical services in support of clinical studies. When we decided to outsource our bioanalytical services to TetraQ the synergistic possibilities became more apparent,” Professor Hooper said.
“We can expand our range of services to existing and future clients with TetraQ’s involvement. It’s a very positive step forward for both businesses as well as our clients.”
TetraQ’s Executive Director, Professor Maree Smith, also recognized the advantages of a strategic alliance.
“TetraQ has a strong track record in fully-validated bioanalytical method development and sample analysis and we are recognized leaders in this area,” Professor Smith said.
“TetraQ’s GLP recognition and NATA ISO 17025 (R&D) accreditation has positioned TetraQ as the leading integrated preclinical service provider to the Australian biopharmaceutical industry. Q-Pharm is an industry leader in Phase 1 clinical trials so the alliance offers a consistent and reliable level of service”.
The alliance was negotiated with the support of UniQuest Pty Limited, UQ’s main commercialisation company. UniQuest was also responsible for setting up TetraQ as the commercial arm of the Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development at UQ and Q-Pharm as a joint venture with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
With their world-recognized credentials, both TetraQ and Q-Pharm have established enviable reputations for high quality services. Both organizations are committed to operating within quality frameworks that comply with the relevant industry-related international standards.
TetraQ was established in 2005 as the first contract research organization in Australia to provide integrated preclinical services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Its state-of-the-art facilities and equipment meet stringent quality and testing standards, and its bioanalytical work is accepted internationally for regulatory review, providing clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with a high degree of assurance.
Emerging from UQ’s Centre for Studies in Drug Disposition, Q-Pharm Pty Limited has grown rapidly in the past six years to become a major provider of Phase 1 clinical trial services to national and international clients. It also conducts Phase I clinical trials, pharmacokinetic studies and bioequivalence studies from its state-of-the-art facilities within the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Tetra Q achieves GLP recognition for Toxicology Services
22 October 2007
TetraQ, the integrated preclinical contract research provider based at The University of Queensland (UQ), has attained Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) recognition for its toxicology services after satisfying rigorous internationally-benchmarked criteria.
The additional accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for another of its key laboratories means that as well as GLP bioanalytical services, TetraQ can provide local and international clients with GLP compliant toxicology services including genotoxicity, dose range-finding, acute and repeat-dose studies.
TetraQ’s Executive Director, Professor Maree Smith, said the GLP accreditation for its toxicology and ADME laboratories has now positioned TetraQ as the leading integrated preclinical service provider to the Australian biopharmaceutical industry.
“TetraQ’s decision to offer toxicology services, including toxicokinetics, allows us to leverage our strong track record in fully-validated bioanalytical method development and sample analysis,” Professor Smith said.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our clients in Australia and overseas an extended, internationally accredited service delivery which includes acute and chronic toxicology services,” said Professor Smith.
Toxicology services include cytotoxicity assays, genotoxicity assays - bacterial mutation (Ames) tests; mouse lymphoma assay; mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus testing; dose range finding; safety pharmacology (cardiovascular, central nervous and respiratory systems); off-target screening; and hERG binding assays.
TetraQ has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment which meet stringent quality and testing standards to conduct toxicology studies that can be recognized by international regulatory authorities.
“GLP recognition is required for regulatory submissions on later-stage toxicology studies, and because we have designed our early-stage services to generate data that will provide valuable input into the planning of more expensive and extensive GLP regulatory studies, we can offer clients a stream-lined suite of screening services. We can also interpret and provide advice on toxicology reports our clients have received from other contract research organisations,” Professor Smith said.
TetraQ was established in 2005 as the first contract research organisation in Australia to provide integrated preclinical services to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. It is the commercial arm of the Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development at UQ and a registered business of UniQuest Pty Ltd, the main commercialisation company of The University of Queensland.
TetraQ receives funding for $1.73M project from Qld Government
11 April 06
TetraQ is very pleased to announce that it has received funding for a collaborative project to develop new tools for preclinical drug development. The project involves contribution by three industry partners and a grant of $865,000 from the Qld Government's Research-Industry Partnership Program to the Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development at the University of Queensland . This will allow the Centre to develop new preclinical tests that will be available from TetraQ in the future.
To read the press release, click here:
Research-Industry Partnership Program Grant Media Release
TetraQ Roadmap of Drug Development Launched
3 April 2006
In response to client requests, we have developed the TetraQ Roadmap of Drug Development, an interactive tool which will be permanently available on the "services overview" page of our website (click here). It was designed to assist companies developing drugs in the preclinical stage to understand the range of choices of preclinical testing, and also to clearly show how TetraQ offers an integrated solution. It is the result of consultation with experts in the industry and from client feedback.
To view and download the Roadmap, click here:
TetraQ Roadmap.pdf
International approval for Australian pharmaceutical testing
10 July 2007
University of Queensland (UQ) based contract research organisation, TetraQ, is now recognised to provide internationally accredited testing services to the Australian biopharmaceutical industry.
TetraQ, an integrated preclinical drug development service provider, has attained official Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) recognition from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for one of its key laboratories.
To read the press release, click here: GLP.pdf
TetraQ forms strategic alliance with vivoPharm
3 April 2006
TetraQ has recently formed a strategic alliance with Adelaide based contract research organisation, vivoPharm Pty Ltd to complement our line-up of disease models that are used to test the efficacy of new drugs. TetraQ has particular strength in testing drugs to treat central nervous system disorders, such as pain and Parkinson's Disease, whilst vivoPharm has a strength in the testing drugs to treat cancer. The arrangement ensures that both TetraQ's and vivoPharm's clients have easy access to a wider range of in vitro and in vivo disease models.
To read the press release, click here:
vivoPharm-TetraQ alliance.pdf
Refurbishment of TetraQ's toxicology laboratory completed
Along with the completion of the Pharmaceutics laboratory in late 2005, TetraQ's toxicology laboratory has now been refurbished to be a state of the art facility for the conduct of toxicology testing and research. Refurbishment of the toxicology animal holding facility is ongoing. Also, the complete refurbishment of the efficacy laboratory is expected to be complete by the end of April 2006 whilst the ADME laboratory refurbishment is about to commence. In total, $4M will be spent on these refurbishments, with a further $4M to be spent on equipment. These funds have been provided by the Queensland Government's Smart State Research Facilities Fund.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's models now available
TetraQ now offers a validated model of Parkinson's disease. Click here for more information:
Parkinson's Model
We also now offer a validated model of Alzheimer's Disease. Click here for more information:
Alzheimer's Model
Alchemia and TetraQ collaborate on new pain treatments
2 December 2005
TetraQ is pleased to announce that it will collaborate with Alchemia to assist its development of new pain drugs. TetraQ will work on developing new in vitro assays to screen compounds generated from Alchemia's VAST platform. The collaboration is supported by a $372,000 ARC linkage grant awarded to UQ's Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development and will enable TetraQ to offer novel in vitro pain models in the future.
To read the the media statement released on 2 December 2005, click here:
Alchemia-TetraQ Collaboration.pdf
TetraQ forms partnership with Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals
18 November 2005
TetraQ is pleased to announce a partnership with Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals (GZP), a regulatory affairs and product development consulting firm based in Irvine, Southern California. GZP brings a wealth of experience and expertise in issues related to early stage drug development and seeking regulatory approval for new drugs, particularly with the FDA in the USA.
To read the media statement, click here:
Strategic plan to accelerate Australian drug development
TetraQ ADME laboratory receives NATA R&D accreditation
20 December 2005
Australia's first Research and Development (R&D) Accreditation has been granted to TetraQ - ADME by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).The R&D accreditation is a new program developed by NATA and TetraQ- ADME has worked closely with NATA over the past several years, culminating in the awarding of Australia's first R&D accreditation on the 10th of August, 2005
The scope of accreditation includes "management and conduct of research into pharmaceutical /biotechnology agents using appropriately validated human and mammalian animal models applicable to adsorption/distribution/metabolism/elimination studies and involving the determination of analytes in biological matrices." (source: NATA website, www.nata.asn.au, search for TetraQ).
The lab was first accredited by NATA in 1997 in the program of medical testing and for the application of the principles of OECD prinicples of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), when it was known as the Centre for Studies in Drug Disposition (CSDD). It was recognized as being competent to produce valid laboratory data in accordance with ISO Guide 25, and later, its successor ISO/IEC Guide 17025 - 1999.
In addition to NATA R&D accreditation, TetraQ-ADME plans to seek the OECD GLP accreditation in 2006. TetraQ will also seek OECD GLP recognition and R&D accreditation for its Toxicology laboratory, as well as R&D accreditation for its Efficacy and Pharmaceutics laboratories in 2006.
To read a recent article on TetraQ in NATA News, click here: NATANews_TetraQ_Article.pdf
Pharmaceutics laboratory refurbishment complete
20 December 2005
Utilising funding provided by an $8.1M grant from the Queensland Government's Smart State Research Facilities Fund, TetraQ is refurbishing over 1000 square metres of laboratory space, and installing $4M dollars worth of new, state of the art equipment.
We have recently completed refurbishment of the TetraQ Pharmaceutics laboratory, and are currently installing specialised equipment to facilitate the physicochemical characterisation and preclinical formulation of new pharmaceuticals amongst other pharmaceutics services. Refurbishment of the three other TetraQ laboratories is on track, and due for completion in early-mid 2006.
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