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Asterand plc is the leading global supplier of high quality, well characterized human tissue and human tissue-based research services to drug discovery scientists. Their mission is to provide human tissues and services to accelerate the identification and validation of drug targets and enhance the selection of drug candidates with an increased likelihood of clinical success.

Serving a Critical Need
Pharmaceutical research is at a critical crossroads. Despite a dramatic increase in R&D budgets, the number of new drug applications is falling because the failure rate in clinical trials remains high. Researchers have always known that animal models provide only a partial guide to drug response in humans. Thus, scientists are becoming increasingly reliant upon human tissue-based models to bridge this knowledge gap and improve decision making during the development of medicines for man.

Our Products
Asterand offers unparalleled access to human tissue through its worldwide network of 83 active collaborative donor institutions. Our XpressBANKTM biobank contains several hundred thousand specimens from a broad range of therapeutic areas and with diverse ethnic representation. Our tissues provide high value to our clients; the quantity of material provided for each sample allows scientists to conduct multiple experiments using a single specimen. In addition, our renowned quality assurance procedures provide stringent controls on specimen collection and characterization and on the corresponding clinical data. As part of this process, we also independently confirm pathology and assess RNA integrity of our tissues. Our quality control results are provided to researchers before they purchase so they can choose samples that will best meet their scientific requirements. Through our ProCURETM service, human tissues and clinical data can also be custom collected to meet special requirements. This includes the collection of follow-up data related to patient outcome.

Our Services
Asterand's Services division offers exemplary scientific expertise in human tissue research. We have more than 10 years experience in providing top multinational pharmaceutical companies with human tissue-based services. Through our PhaseZERO® drug discovery services platform, we provide a collaborative scientific approach to deliver human tissue-based data on target & biomarker validation as well as compound potency, efficacy, disposition and safety. Our studies can be custom designed and are conducted on a fee-for-service basis where our clients own and retain all resulting IP and data.

Management

Martyn Coombs – Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director

John Stchur, CPA - Chief Financial Officer   

Victoria Blanc, Ph.D. - General Manager - US Operations 

Tony Brown, Ph.D. - General Manager - UK Operations 

Ellen Berg, Ph.D. - General Manager - BioSeek LLC 

Terry Reilly - Vice President of Sales & Marketing 

Board of Directors
Chairman
Jack Davis - Non-Executive Director 

Executive Directors
Martyn Coombs – Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
John Stchur – Chief Financial Officer

Non-Executive Directors
Dr. Peter Coggins - (Senior Independent Director) 
Jonathan Fleming
Jill L. Force 
Ian Ratcliffe
Robert Salisbury

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