Receptor Pharmacology
for Metabolic Diseases

Gifford Bioscience accelerates your metabolic and endocrine disease drug development pipeline with SPR, radioligand binding and functional assays tailored to your precise requirements.

Assess the activity of your drug candidate at specific receptors, such as GLP-1, Oestrogen and thyroid receptors, at targets including kinases, or upon cell signalling such as the mTOR pathway.

We maintain a strong relationship with the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre here in Birmingham obtain the tissues required for your study, for example neuroendocrine tumours, endocrine gland tissues, liver, adipose and intestine tissue, as well as control healthy tissue. We evaluate the binding of your therapeutic compounds in target tissue and assess off-target effects.

We also provide a cell culture service to grow your specific cell lines for analysis, or alternatively, utilize our in-house cell lines.

Case Study

We characterised three peptide hormone systems relevant to metabolic disease, combining biophysical and functional pharmacology across recombinant and native tissue platforms. Insulin binding kinetics and affinity were determined by Surface Plasmon Resonance. Calcitonin signalling was profiled through cAMP accumulation at the recombinant human calcitonin receptor. Glucagon function was confirmed in native rat kidney homogenate, where endogenously expressed glucagon receptors drive cAMP accumulation with potency consistent with published values. This combined package, biophysical characterisation alongside recombinant and native functional readouts, supports drug discovery programmes in metabolic disease.

Radioligand Binding Assays determine receptor-ligand binding affinity (K_d, IC₅₀, K_i), density of binding sites (B_max) and binding kinetics (k_on/k_off) in cell lines or to native receptors in human or animal tissue.

Autoradiography and Receptor Occupancy visualise the tissue distribution of your target in diseased tissue and assess off-target binding.

SPR assesses binding affinity, inhibition (K_d, IC₅₀, K_i) and kinetics of therapeutic antibodies to target of interest (k_on/k_off).

Functional Cell Signalling Assays determine the physiological effects of compounds by measuring kinase activity or investigate receptor activation and downstream signalling (cAMP, Ca2+, phospho-ERK assay) as a result of agonist, antagonist, or inverse agonist treatment (EC₅₀, E_max, IC₅₀).

Radioimmunoassay and ELISAs monitor target expression and determine concentration of targets upon drug treatment.

What our Partners say about Gifford Bioscience

From initial inquiry to project debrief, it’s our collaborative style that sets us apart. Our 100% PhD level scientists use their deep expertise to help you solve even the most complex of scientific challenges. Visit our testimonials page to see how our Metabolic Diseases CRO services have helped our partners achieve quality outcomes in the development of their novel therapeutics.