CROs Harlan and Fluofarma To Collaborate On Drug Discovery
By Cyndi Root
Harlan Laboratories, a contract research organization (CRO), announced in a press release that it has formed a partnership with Fluofarma, a CRO. The two intend to leverage each other’s expertise to expand service offerings to clients. Harlan expects to strengthen its early development services and Fluofarma expects to improve its international visibility.
Ciriaco Maraschiello, director at Harlan, said, “One of our goals is to help our customers reduce the risk of drug attrition during the development process.”
Jean-Baptiste Pin, CEO of Fluofarma, stated that Harlan’s international presence will help accelerate its growth. He said that in return, “Our high content analysis technologies and translational research skills can add value to the global drug development process.”
Harlan and Fluofarma Agreement
The new partnership between Harlan and Fluofarma will strengthen both companies’ translational medicine services. Harlan will gain access to Fluofarma’s biomarkers quantification and toxicity prediction expertise. Fluofarma will be able to collaborate with Harlan’s laboratories in Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
About Fluofarma
Fluofarma is a privately held CRO based in France. Begun in 2003, the company was founded by three scientists from major French institutes and currently employs 25 people. It develops assays for drug discovery using High-Content Analysis (HCA). In 2013, it announced progress in its 3D cell culture system, which investigates the action mechanism of microtissues. The company also presented findings on its in vitro model of tauopathy, which is based on okadaic acid and results in a cell-based assay used to study neurofibrillar degeneration.
About Harlan Laboratories
Harlan Laboratories is a subsidiary of Harlan Laboratories. Harlan began in the Midwest U.S. in the 1940’s. Today, the company employs over 3,000 people in 12 countries. In January 2014, the company announced that it would open an oncology facility in the Genome Valley Alexandria Technology Park in Hyderabad, India.
In March 2014, Harlan announced a collaboration agreement with Bertin Pharma to use its expertise in immunology and biomarkers. Shortly thereafter in May, Harlan joined the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, pledging its commitment to transparency in animal research.