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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

UFS academics nominated for NSTF Awards
2016-05-19

Description: Zakkie Pretorius Tags: Zakkie Pretorius

Prof Zakkie Pretorius

Prof Zakkie Pretorius and Prof Maryke Labuschagne, researchers in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), have been nominated for the 2016 awards of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) in partnership with South32.

The NSTF awards recognise outstanding contributions to science, engineering, and technology (SET) and innovation for researchers and other SET-related professionals. The awards are referred to as the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa, as they are the largest, most comprehensive, and most sought-after national Awards of their kind. Among other things, the NSTF aims to celebrate, recognise, and reward excellence in science, engineering, technology and innovation within the SET sectors.

Prof Pretorius was short-listed as a finalist in the category: Lifetime Award for an outstanding contribution to SET and innovation by an individual over a period of 15 years or more.

Description: Maryke Labuschagne Tags: Maryke Labuschagne

Prof Maryke Labuschagne

He works on crop quality and disease resistance in the field crops research chair headed by Prof Labuschagne in the Department of Plant Sciences. Disease-resistance breeding is a continuation of the internationally-acclaimed wheat rust research that Prof Pretorius has been conducting during his career.

Prof Labuschagne is a finalist in the category: Special Award in Crop Science and Food Security. This is a special award by the NSTF this year, in honour of the 2016 International Year of Pulses, as declared by the United Nations.

Prof Labuschagne heads the research chair on quality and diseases in field crops at the UFS. Her research, and that of her students, focuses on the genetic improvement of food security crops in Africa, including such staples as maize and cassava.

At a Gala Dinner on 30 June 2016, the finalists will be honoured before the Minister of Science and Technology, the patron of the occasion, announces the winners of the 2015/2016 awards.   

 

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