Open Flow Microperfusion

OFM is a membrane-free, time-resolved, minimally-invasive, in-vivo sampling technology by JOANNEUM RESEARCH HEALTH

Bioequivalence of drugs in the skin

In an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) co-funded project we have
developed a methodology to determine bioequivalence of topical drugs

Therapeutic antibody in the skin

dOFM was successfully used to measure a therapeutic antibody (secukinumab) and inflammatory markers in healthy and lesional skin of patients with psoriasis

PK of nanoformulated cancer drugs in the brain

cOFM was successfully used to measure substance transport enhanced by nanocarriers across the blood-brain barrier

Tissue selective insulin concentrations in adipose tissue

aOFM was successfully used to measure insulin concentrations and
time-resolved profiles in a clinical trial

Better data
for better decisions

Our innovative OFM (open flow microperfusion) sampling technology is a valuable tool for PK-PD studies in neuroscience, dermatology, oncology, and biomarker research. Minimally invasive, membrane-free OFM probes enable access to the entire biochemical information of the interstitial fluid from brain and peripheral tissues, and thus opens up new horizons in preclinical and clinical drug testing.

Efficient

OFM studies reduce costs by providing a complete pharmacological profile early in drug development.

Targeted

OFM probes enable continuous sampling from clearly specified tissue types.

Universal

OFM samples all substances from the interstitial fluid independent of size, lipophilicity or protein-binding.

Clinical Partnership Update

To increase the accessibility of dermal OFM technology for clinical applications, we have successfully developed a partnership with two clinical contract research organizations (CROs): AXIS Clinicals Ltd in the USA and Cliantha Research Limited in India.

Cliantha Research Partnership

AXIS Clinicals Partnership

Key Features & Applications

Membrane-free sampling

The distinct advantage of OFM lies in the direct access to the interstitial fluid of different tissues by using membrane-free probes. Membrane-based sampling is often limited to sampling low molecular weight or hydrophilic substances. Membrane-free OFM probes feature an exchange area with no diffusion barrier, hence sampling is not restricted by the size or lipophilicity of substances or protein binding effects.

Technology

Investigate diseases and treatments

OFM enables the investigation of disease biomarkers directly in the affected tissue and can be used to continuously monitor therapeutic effects on tissue level. Resulting OFM data are barely influenced by other metabolic processes in the body contrary to standard blood sampling. Time-resolved profiles over longer time periods allow the assessment of treatment effects and can be performed at multiple test sites in one subject.

Projects

Services

Testing of dermal products

Using our innovative dOFM technology, we design customized test set-ups in order to generate reliable data as early as possible in drug development. Read more

Testing BBB transport of neuropharmaceuticals

cOFM technology allows a look beyond the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and assesses concentrations and effects of neuroactive substances in the targeted brain tissue. Read more

Bioequivalence testing of topical generics

We plan and perform studies to evaluate the bioequivalence for topical dermal generics directly in the dermis using a pharmacokinetics approach with dOFM. Read more

PK-PD testing of subcutaneous drugs

aOFM technology is used to monitor drug distribution and drug-tissue interaction after subcutaneous injection by providing direct access to the interstitial fluid. Read more

Products

Skin Tissue

Dermal OFM (dOFM) measures PK/PD of drugs in the dermis after topical or systemic application.
e.g. antibodies, protein-bound drugs.

Brain Tissue

Cerebral OFM (cOFM) monitors BBB function and drug transport across the intact blood-brain-barrier (BBB).
e. g. nanoformulations, antibodies.

Adipose Tissue

Adipose OFM (aOFM) assesses transport routes, drug dispersion and drug effects in adipose tissue,
e.g. insulins, GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Insight: Dermal Research at JOANNEUM RESEARCH HEALTH

Frank Sinner, Vice President Regulatory & Strategic Affairs at HEALTH - Institute of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, introduces OFM in a new video interview series, highlighting projects and services in the area of dermal research.