The Company

Company Profile:

    BioSentinel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BioSentinel) was founded to develop rapid, sensitive tests for the detection of the botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) required by the US Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland security to protect the nation from intentional misuse of these Class A bioterrorism agents. BioSentinel's proprietary rapid detection technology addresses not only the US biodefense mandate but also the needs of pharmaceutical companies who sell botulinum neurotoxin for FDA approved cosmetic and therapeutic applications, our detection technologies are adjunctive to discovery (non-clinical research only, not for diagnostic use) programs for current and novel clinical applications of BoNTs.

    BioSentinel's technology is being developed for both in vitro and cell-based detection of BoNT activity. Using reporters that detect the proteolytic activity of BoNT, BioSentinel is developing assays for the detection all seven types of BoNT. The assays will detect BoNT in a manner of minutes with sensitivity that rivals the sensitivity of the mouse bioassay, the "gold standard" for BoNT detection. The assays will be easy to use, be readily adaptable to various applications, and, for the cell-based assay, directly replace the laborious mouse bioassay.

    BioSentinel is currently adapting the BoNT detection technology for a number of applications important for biodefense, environmental, and pharmaceutical purposes (non-clinical research only, not for diagnostic use). BioSentinel's assays are used in high throughput screening assays for the discovery of BoNT antagonists and for the characterization of the mechanism(s) of action of novel BoNT inhibitors. BioSentinel is also developing a proprietary hand-held device for the detection of BoNT in the field for biodefense and environmental purposes. The device will require minimal training to operate and will be adaptable for the detection of BoNT from wildlife and environmental samples, food products, and human sera samples. Finally, BioSentinel is developing assays that will require FDA approval and can be used for a dual purpose, monitoring the therapeutic use(s) of BoNT toxins and enabling the early detection and critical therapeutic determinants in cases related to untoward uses of the BoNT toxins (i.e. biodefense applications).

    BioSentinel has a vigorous research and development program that includes a state-of-the-art laboratory in Madison, WI and partners throughout the US. BioSentinel maintains active collaborations with the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC, Madison, WI), the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. BioSentinel is also partnered with private companies who share BioSentinel's goals of developing innovative technologies/platforms for the detection, characterization, and quantification of BoNTs.

    BioSentinel intends to stay at the forefront of the US biodefense mandate by designing proactive biodefense programmes. BioSentinel also intends to support pharmaceutical programs for the ever expanding clinical uses/applications of BoNTs.