Planar Microelectrode Arrays Hardware, Software & Algorithms New Tools for Drug Discovery

1. Planar Microelectrode ArraysHardware, Software & AlgorithmsNew Tools for Drug Discovery Tom Manuccia ProfessorDepartment of Electrical & Computer EngineeringGeorge Washington University202-994-9298 manuccia@gwu.edu

2. DESCRIPTION: • Build high throughput system to detect effects of drugs under development on the firing patterns of nerve cells grown in culture. Build the system around a new type of microelectrode array developed in my lab over the past 5 years. • NEED: • Huge market. Every candidate compound must be extensively tested for neurotoxic effects. • STATE-OF-THE-ART: • All sequential experiments - One drug, one concentration, no simultaneous control • INNOVATION: • 96 or more simultaneous toxicology experiments possible using Optically Switched Microelectrode Array (OSMA) technology - Vastly increased throughput • PROJECT SCOPE (1st three years): • Build 3 prototype systems (hardware, software & consumables) & install in selected beta test sites • MARKET • Estimated Market Size (next 10 years): 10 systems in each of the 10 largest pharmaceutical labs • Pricing: Other high throughput testing systems giving similar value added sell for $5 M each. • % Market Capture: Zero for 1st 3 years; 10% per year thereafter • Source of market estimates: Meetings with VP level staff at Glaxo, Merck, J&J, & Eli Lilly • Cost of Production (incl. amortized R&D costs): $1 M / system • Source of research, development and production cost data: Actual expenditures from my lab