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FARMOVS – 47 years of bioanalytical experience leads pre-clinical and clinical trials

01 October 2021 | Story Lunga Luthuli and Vicky Simpson | Photo Supplied

Anton Engelbrecht _ Farmovs researcher — Anton Engelbrecht, FARMOVS Bioanalysis Specialist.

“At FARMOVS, we have the opportunity to work with the world’s top pharmaceutical companies, where we form part of the evaluation of labelled and/or conjugated antigens and antibodies that are developed for accurate quantification of endogenous and pharmaceutical compounds. Alternatively, commercially available kits and reagents are also used for the same purpose if the sponsor cannot supply the customised antigens/antibodies. The developed assay methods are put through a rigorous validation assessment to confirm the selectivity, sensitivity, and robustness of the assay,” says Anton Engelbrecht, FARMOVS Bioanalysis Specialist.

FARMOVS, affiliated to the University of the Free State and operating from the Bloemfontein Campus, is a leading clinical research organisation (CRO) with a unique advantage. As the only on-site ISO15189-accredited and GLP-certified pharmacokinetic laboratory on the African continent, with numerous successful inspections by leading international regulators, it offers the highest quality bioanalytical services in a variety of biological matrices for the development of pharmaceutical products.

Engelbrecht says: “The team of bioanalytical experts thrives on the excitement generated by new discoveries that lead to better treatment of a variety of physiological diseases.”

Advanced technology backed by 47 years of bioanalytical experience

The clinical research organisation prides itself on advanced technology, backed by 47 years of bioanalytical experience. It has developed more than 580 validated analytical methods that adhere to the International Council for Harmonisation and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. FARMOVS’ analytical methods have been used in more than 3 000 pre-clinical and clinical trials, contributing to the manufacturing of pharmaceutical drugs that are now used by households across the globe.

At FARMOVS, Engelbrecht says, it is a “world filled with novel methods of analysis and subsequent technological integration that expands the horizons of clinical research forming an important part of the discovery and production of new life-saving medicines that is constantly improving the quality of life of people all over the world”.

Engelbrecht says: “New technology and innovation should be the building blocks of any laboratory, and among these are the three fastest sample production members of our Immunochemistry Laboratory team – the STARLet pipettors.”

“We chose the Microlab® STARLet apparatus by Hamilton, because of its ability to perform sample analysis in large quantities at a greater speed by means of robotic pipetting and robotic automated microplate reading, which is a semi-automated process.”

He shared his excitement about improvements in the field of immunoassay development for the purposes of pharmaceutical analysis. This involves the preparation of unique immunoanalytical reagents, analysis of new categories of compounds, methodology, and instrumentation. The most important examples in this field are the continuous development of bead-based immunoassays.

Staying competitive in the industry

Immunoassay methods, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), among others, are also used at FARMOVS to analyse macromolecules for clients. “The RIA method is used for the determination of several pharmaceutically important compounds in biological fluids. RIA requires a sample containing the antigen of interest, a complementary antibody, and a radiolabelled version of the antigen. To increase the selectivity of an assay, all samples are pre-treated to eliminate high molecular weight endogenous matrix components, including anti-drug antibodies,” explains Engelbrecht.

Although FARMOVS has adequate technology to provide market-related results, the plan is to expand the team to include a multiplex platform that is a sensitive, fully automated immunoassay platform with multiplexing and custom assay capability. “This will pave the way to use an even more sensitive method to quantify biomarkers in the fields of oncology, neurology, cardiology, inflammation, and infectious disease. We aim to remain competitive in our industry, so naturally we must recruit the brightest and most evolved to join the team,” he says.

News Archive

Official opening of Faculty of Health Sciences Rural Community Initiative

2017-01-01

Description: Karla Mostert Tags: Mail & Guardian, 200 Young South Africans, Candice Thikeson, Karla Mostert, Lerato Machetela, Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Thapelo Mokoatsi

Ribbon cutting, Prof van Zyl and Ms du Plessis
Venter (community member)

The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Free State (UFS) has, as part of its commitment to student and community development, established a student residence in the town of Trompsburg in the Kopanong Local municipality, Xhariep District municipality in the Southern Free State. The Faculty officially opened the Faculty of Health Sciences Rural Community Initiative on 14 and 15 June 2017. The memorial plaque was unveiled by Prof Gert van Zyl (Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences) and Prof Francis Petersen (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State)

The importance of the residence

The goal of the ‘Kopanang le fodise – Unite to heal’ programme is to develop a community-centered collaborative framework for sustainable, holistic healthcare and social development incorporated in the curricula of the Faculty.

Background of the project

During 2016 a total of 324 fourth-year students of the Faculty have each spend at least a week in interprofessional groups in primary healthcare facilities in the Kopanong municipality on a Community Based Education, Interprofessional Education (CBE-IPE) platform in Trompsburg and Springfontein.

To facilitate student rural placement the former Midway guesthouse currently includes seven (7) facilitator units with on suite bathrooms, two (2) fully equipped lecture facilities, a recreation room and a library with computers and internet access. The newly developed student residence has 10 apartments that can each accommodate six (6) individuals. A housemaster resides on the premises and acts as manager of the facility. All areas of the residence are Wifi covered and 24h security service is in place.

The ceremony was attend by the following partners

University of the Free State (UFS)

Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen.
Members of the UFS council, Dr Vinger and Dr Swart
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof van Zyl.
The Head of the School of Allied Health Professions, Dr van Vuuren.
The Head of the School of Medicine, Prof Kruger.
Faculty from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Members from UFS institutional support department: ICT, Finance, Facilities management

Kopanong local municipality

Councilor Basholo, representing the Kopanong local municipality.
Kopanong local community members
Free State Department of Education (DoE)
Free State Department of Health (DoH)

Private sector partners

Mr Burgess, CEO of MDG Heath Solutions
The Mother And Child Academic Hospital (MACAH) represented by Prof Venter, head of department of Paediatrics, donated two (2) state of the art baby scales to the rural health programme.

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