Biologic drugs represent one of the most important and fastest growing areas in healthcare today, and especially as these biopharmaceuticals begin to come off patent and developers prepare for biosimilars to hit the market, there is a growing need for advanced analytics throughout the drug development process.
The Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, a part of Northeastern University's College of Science, has recognized this need, and has partnered in the formation of BioAnalytix, LLC—a company specializing in the application of advanced biologic drug characterization methods and technologies to enable better, faster and more effective drug development and commercialization.
With a strong and experienced board from the analytical sciences and pharmaceutical industry, the Barnett Institute wanted to help create a company that could directly serve pharmaceutical partners in key areas of biologic development. "Beyond its well established research position in advanced analytics, the Barnett Institute has for several yearsbeen working with leading pharmaceutical companies to develop and apply analytical methods in their areas of biologic development, and we continued to see the increasing opportunity to meet this need as a commercially orientedbusiness," said Barry Karger, Director of the Barnett Institute, James L. Waters Chair in Analytical Chemistry.
"It is really a terrific opportunity to bring leading research and advanced analytic capabilities into a business that can directly help improve and accelerate drug development processes, and reduce costs in the healthcare space overall," said BioAnalytix CEO, Kirt Poss.
The affiliation between the Barnett Institute and BioAnalytix will also enable a mutually beneficial opportunity in joint participation in leading research and policy areas, as well as increased project work with partners in combined areas of advanced research and commercial application,providing even more unique and applied opportunities for Northeastern students. "The spin-off of BioAnalytix not only leads to socially beneficial commercial development that we are not suited to do inside a university, but also keeps our research in contact with the cutting edge of technology in the biologic sector," said Murray Gibson, Dean of Northeastern's College of Science.