Product

The NeuroCart

July 29, 2010

• Alertness
• Memory
• Motor skills
• Visuomotor skills
• General activity of the brain
• Subjective effects

The respective tests have the benefit of a short duration and limited learning effect, facilitating the possibility of performing these tests repetitiously. In turn this allows us to gain an enormous amount of data in an easy and rapid way without being invasive. This is also compliant with our ethical considerations; when a volunteer exposes him or herself to the possible dangerous effect of a new drug we owe it to them and science to gain all the information we can. Importantly, the information is all stored electronically reducing bias and allowing swift results. The software used for this process is easily replaced and new tests can be included in the future allowing a tailor made package for every different drug.

Examples of tests:

• Saccadic & smooth eye movement
• Adaptive treatment
• Fingertapping
• Body sway
• Electroencephalography
• Visual analogue scales
• Psychometric questionnaires
• Autonomic function tests
• Polysomnography
• Symbol digit substitution
• Critical flicker fusion
• Stroop conflict
• Memory tests

By measuring multidimensional aspects of CNS functions we are able to create a pharmacodynamic profile for new drugs and compare this profile with the kinetic one enabling us to compare effects on the CNS directly to drug levels in the blood and side effects. The NeuroCart can be deployed to measure effects of drugs in patients; e.g. sleep disorders, anti-psychotics, anti-addiction and even Alzheimer drugs. Next to patients we also do research in healthy volunteers in some cases.

Deploying 15 years of expertise we have gained experience in comparing potential new drugs with other or existing medication. By using the appropriate test, high quality interim reports can help to decide on further subsequent studies adequately and precise.

Advantages of our NeuroCart:

• Repetitious and non invasive tests assure we obtain detailed information that result in PK-PD profiles of the investigational drug
• Flexible designs can be implemented according to the pharmacology of the drug
• Electronical data collection makes sure that results are swift, reliable and results can be analysed efficiently

References:

1. Haas de, J.et al. Orexin receptor antagonism, a new sleep-promoting paradigm: An ascending single-dose study with almorexant. Clin. Pharm. & Therapeutics. 87(5), 593-600 (2010).
2. Liem-Molenaar, M. et al. The effects of the glycine reuptake inhibitor R213129 on the central nervous system andon scopolamine-induced impairments in psychomotor and cognitive function in healthy subjects. J. psychopharm. 0(00) 1-12 (2010).
3. Zoethout, R.W.M. et al. Central nervous system effects of alcohol at a pseudo-steady-state concentration using alcohol clamping in healthy volunteers. BJ Clin. Pharm. 68(4) 524-534 (2010).
4. Zuurman, L. et al. Inhibition of THC-induced effects on the central nervous system and heart rate by a novel CB1 receptor antagonist AVE1625. J Psychopharm. 24(3) 363-371 (2010).