ADR-AC GmbH is an independent company devoted to understanding, diagnosis and prevention of drug hypersensitivity
ADR-AC (Adverse Drug Reactions - Analyses and Consulting) consists of MDs, Pharmacists, Biologists/Biochemists and technicians experienced with clinical, immunological and molecular aspects of drug hypersensitivity reactions.
ADR-AC is connected to clinicians experienced in the field of drug hypersensitivity, and to clinics and laboratories interested in drug hypersensitivity. We are daily involved in clinical and immunological characterization of patients with drug allergies. This combined, clinical and experimental experience in this difficult area is unique and the basis for ADR-AC.
Most members of ADR-AC have gained experience in drug allergy research, working in the group of Prof. Werner J. Pichler at the Inselspital, Bern.
The group can look back to 20 years of human orientated drug allergy research with over 150 publications and break through research like the detection and formulation of the pi-concept (see "background") and subclassifying type IV-reactions according to Gell and Coombs. Research is often based on a careful analysis of drug induced exanthems, Stevens Johnson Syndrome or generalized reactions like DRESS/DiHS.
The aim of ADR-AC is to increase the safety of new drugs by bringing the clinical and research based knowledge of drug hypersensitivity reactions to the pharmaceutical industry:
- understanding adverse reactions to a certain drug (IgE and T cell reactions to small chemicals, immune reactions to biologicals)
- screening for the sensitizing potential of a drug during development (“risk assessment”, based on in vitro tests)
- detecting, whether a certain drug was indeed responsible for a presumed drug allergic reaction (demonstration of a cellular immune response to a drug based on a variety of tests)
Most tests rely on human cells. Sophisticated cell culture methodology and various read out systems previously evaluated in drug allergic donors are used to detect a reactivity of peripheral blood cells to drugs.
The main emphasis is laid on analysis:
- development of in vitro tests to monitor for drug hypersensitivity
- offering tests to screen for drug hypersensitivity
- monitoring for drug hypersensitivity during phase 1 - 3 studies
- development of tests to predict the sensitizing potential of a drug
and consulting:
- advise whether a clinical symptom can be a drug hypersensitivity and what to do to clarify the situation