Benefits of using MSD Multiplex Assays for Drug Discovery

Today sponsors have multiple methods to measure study matrices. These tools include ELISA multiplex assay, RT-PCR, and western blot technique. Evaluating drug compounds early in the drug discovery phase is crucial for transitioning lead compounds from preclinical research to clinical trials. Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) has emerged as a robust tool for drug discovery studies. Today ELISA labs are increasingly moving from conventional ELISA to robust MSD multiplex assays.

Meso Scale ELISA assays are similar to conventional ELISA formats, but they employ electrochemiluminescence detection and multi-array technology to provide highly accurate, sensitive, and economically efficient results. MSD multiplex ELISA assays have several benefits for studying compounds during drug discovery. The current article discusses these advantages in more detail.

Advantages of MSD Multiplex Assay in Drug Discovery Studies

MSD technology has robust capacities to provide precision, reproducibility, sensitivity, and quantification of compounds, which are vital for drug discovery studies. Besides, lower costs and fast turnaround times have made the MSD platform a robust tool for various drug discovery studies, including:

• Cytokines and chemokines
• Angiogenesis
• Cardiovascular
• Inflammation
• Neurodegeneration
• GPCR-ligand binding proteins
• Hypoxia
• Immunology
• Growth factors
• Toxicology
• Intercellular signaling
• Bone metabolism
• Oncology

Compared to traditional analysis, MSD multiplex has a broader dynamic range and higher sensitivity. Besides, it works in low-volume samples with minimized matrix effects, allowing accurate qualification of analytes. Moreover, it has reduced washing steps and simple protocols, making it an efficient tool for high throughput screening during drug discovery studies.

MSD multiplex assays are a versatile platform. The MSD plate has a carbon electrode that can be coated with different capture materials, including proteins, peptides, antibodies, cells, carbohydrates, and polysaccharides. MSD has applications in assessments of biomarkers, anti-drug antibody interactions, pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic analysis, drug efficacy, drug purity, identity and stability studies, and also during manufacturing processes. Specifically, MSD assay is a better alternative to the Western blot technique as they provide faster results, has fewer processing steps, and can analyze samples in low-volume studies.

During drug discovery studies, MSD assay can analyze several biological sample types, including cell culture supernatant, serum, plasma, and tissue homogenates. Hence, the MSD platform becomes a vital tool not only for drug discovery studies but also for drug development, clinical studies, and manufacturing processes.

MSD provides customized and ready-to-use pre-validated kits with singleplex and multiplex configurations. Besides, these assays come in different sample matrices, ranging from mouse, rat, human, and canine samples, with consistent analytical performance.

Finally, multiplex capacities are one of the significant advantages of MSD multiplex assay. MSD plates come in 96 and 384-well formats, where 96-well plates can have up to 10 different spots for capturing antibodies. On the other hand, 384-well plates can have up to 4 different spots. Researchers can allocate different capture antibodies at distinct spots in the multi-array plate. Such multiplexing capacities allow researchers to analyze up to 10 analytes within a single complex study material, facilitating improved efficiency and increased productivity.

In conclusion

MSD multiplex assays are robust tools for increasing the chances of identifying potential lead compounds and transitioning them from the preclinical to the clinical stage of drug development.

Must Read: Inside an MSD Lab: A Tour of Equipment and Processes