title: Evolution of cell-based reagent provision.
abstract: Cell-based screening is now part of all stages of drug discovery, and therefore, cell supply is a rate-limiting step. Reagent provision groups have responded by exploiting automation and new concepts such as frozen cells to ease the constraint and increase quality and flexibility of cell supply. With increasing numbers of projects to support, reagent development is now perceived as a new bottleneck. In this review, we describe a new operating model that has emerged at Pfizer UK addressing reagent development and cell supply issues without growing headcount, by complementing the application of internal expertise with use of contract research organisations.
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Global Research & Development, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK. darren.cawkill@pfizer.com
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cawkill
authors.forename: Simon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Eaglestone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002460:Cell Line; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D017149:Private Sector; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents