MOST-EEG and Pharmaceutical Research and Development

There are multiple contexts in which drug investigations using MOST-EEG analysis is suitable.  For example, our process using MOST-EEG can be used for (1) bringing a new drug to market, (2) re-purposing an existing accepted drug for other applications, (3) comparing how multiple drugs affect the brain.  

The Steps In Our Process

 

(5) provide the drug developer with the Stage II analysis results that were calculated using our latest ‘experimental’ algorithms, data representation methods, and experimental condition comparisons.

There are multiple contexts in which a drug developmer might benefit from our services and technology.  These contexts include (1) the standard drug development process (2) drug re-purposing with the intention to maintain exclusivity of a particular compound by finding new treatment applications, (3) comparing existing drug compounds to determine which of a comparison set performs best with the fewest side-effects.  A description of each context and how our organization would participate in a client's drug development and evaluation process is given below in terms of the typical drug development pipeline.

Figure 1 illustrates how we participate in the development of a new pharmaceutical and how the information we generate from our analysis impacts pharmaceutical development. The information about brain function derived from our analysis impacts pharmaceutical development in 2 ways: (1) Phase III testing of the drug being examined can be made more efficient by obtaining information in Phase II about how the drug impacts brain function in terms of both sensory-motor, and high-level cognition.  Such information can help avoid problems that might arise in Phase III and identify unexpected 'other' effects that might indicate potential in unanticipated markets.  (2)  the information that can be obtained in Phase II can have an impact on future drug design.  Information can be obtained that identifies how a particular type molecule interacts with human brain function and can inform the design of the next molecule.

Figure 1. Block diagram illustrating where in the drug development pipeline our services our involved, the list of services we provide, what impact the results we obtain can have, and how these results can impact drug development in our client's organization.

Figure 2 illustrates our participation in the endeavor to re-purpose  an existing pharmaceutical.  Re-purposing of a drug might be a strategy for a drug development organization that has a drug nearing the end of its patent.  We can provide data acquisition and analysis that can help a drug developer  identify applications of the drug for which it is not already being used.  Our role in this endeavour is to run what is essentially a small-'n' 'Phase II' study where brain activity analysis is the primarly component of the study protocol.

Figure 2. Block diagram illustrating how our services can provide information about an existing approved drug that might identify other applications for the drug.

Multiple generic drugs, drugs in development, or a competitor’s drug product line can be compared to determine which has the most positive impact on brain function.  Such a study provides information to aid in the design of future molecules or can provide information towards deciding which drug to use in which application. For example, a clinician might like to have a comparative evaluation of a set of drugs so that they can provide patients with the drug that has the least negative cognitive impact and maximally affect the disorder being treated.  Figure 3 illustrates how we would participate in such an evaluation.

Figure 3. Block diagram illustrating how our services can provide information about existing approved drugs in a comparison study to see which drug has the best performance.