Metabolomics is defined as the study of cellular metabolism that involves small molecule substrates and chemical processes of metabolites and intermediates. Over the last few years, biomedical research has begun to emphasize small molecules, single genes, proteins, transcripts, and metabolites as substitutes for genome, proteome, and other metabolomics. The deep insight study of metabolites allows researchers to explore gene-environment interactions and precision medicines to treat diseases efficiently. During drug development, metabolome profiling helps identify biomarkers that are used for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and novel drug target identification. Owing to the significance of metabolomics, several pharmaceutical companies continue to integrate metabolomics with drug discovery projects as it significantly assists in improving the success rate of drug development.
Furthermore, with the increasing prevalence of precision medicine, there is a rapid increase in the demand for quantification methods and susceptible analysis procedures such as metabolomics. Driven by the significance of metabolomics testing / metabolomics techniques, several market players are actively investing in the advancements of metabolomics to discover more therapeutics, patient diagnoses, and precision medicine development. The ongoing efforts in research for precision medicine anticipate a growing metabolomics market in the upcoming years.
Metabolomics Analysis: A Deep Insight
In drug development, the primary aim of using metabolome analysis methods is to identify and quantify all the metabolites present in the cellular systems. The study of metabolomics follows these crucial steps:
⬝ Sample preparation that simplifies the complex molecules mixture followed by detection of proteins, single genes and metabolites using high-pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography.
⬝ The separated small molecules and metabolites are then quantified using advanced quantification methods such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.
⬝ After the quantification of small molecules, the samples data will be analyzed using statistical or computation methods.
Top Applications of Metabolomics In Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine
The emergence of metabolomics technology in the comprehensive analysis of metabolites in cellular systems has contributed to the development of target-specific therapies. It is considered a high-resolution phenotyping method that evaluates metabolites derived from physiological and endogenous / exogenous processes taking place inside the organism. Metabolites act as disease biomarkers and help in characterizing a patient’s response to treatment. It serves as a comprehensive tool to study metabolomes and utilize metabolomics technology that has the potential to detect metabolism inborn errors and rare diseases.
§ Early Disease Characterization and Diagnosis of Disease Phenotypes
Metabolite patterns provide for precise metabolic characterization by allowing participants to be distinguished from one another. This might reveal novel and unidentified metabolic pathophysiological mechanisms in addition to the metabolic pathways implicated in the illness phenotype.
Different tumor types can be diagnosed with the use of metabolic profiling. More than thirty endogenous metabolites, such as low glycerophosphocholine, low glucose, and elevated phosphocholine, have been found in breast cancer tissues and may be predictive of the prognosis of the illness.
Patients who have breast cancer may be at risk for micrometastases due to elevated levels of lysine, N-acetylcysteine, proline, phenylalanine, plasma glucose, and lipids. Likewise, metabolic markers have been identified for colorectal, lung, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Therefore, in cancer patients, metabolomics can be utilized for predicting overall survival, progression of the disease, and metastasis.
§ Identification of Drug Toxicity and Pharmacometabolomics
Metabolomics helps in the identification of drug toxicity during drug discovery and disease treatment. For instance, atopic dermatitis treatment in infants includes topical steroids and steroid-free topical calcineurin inhibitors; both are associated with serious toxicity and complications. Metabolomics technology serves as an excellent tool for accessing clinical data for the prediction of toxicity and systemic reactions of drug therapy, thereby controlling the adverse effects of drug reactions.
On the other hand, pharmacometabolomics associated with drug effects on biological systems refers to the future of targeted therapies and precision medicine. The level of metabolite can help in identification of responses to a drug and is often used to distinguish drug candidates that respond to specific drug treatment from the non-responders.
For instance, targeted metabolomics has been applied for the evaluation of metabolic signatures of responders and non-responders to L-carnitine treatment to treat life-threatening sepsis. Moreover, patients with high levels of 3-hydroxyvaleric acid, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate before treatment with L-carnitine have a positive drug response and improved survival rate. These types of pharmacometabolomics findings play an important role in the metabolic phenotyping of L-carnitine responders and help in the identification of alternate care for those with non-responders.
§ Drug Development
A clinical trial is the most crucial process for the development of drugs as it helps determine the efficacy and safety of drugs to be used on humans. However, clinical trials are a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Metabolic profiles play an essential role in drug development, providing a deep insight into variations of response to antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiplatelet therapies, antihypertensives, and the development of side effects during treatment. A deep understanding of the patient’s tolerance to the drug provides researchers with a deep insight into the success of the drug and possible outcomes.
Current Metabolomics Market Developments
Several metabolomics companies are engaged in the research and development activities we outlined below.
⬝ In July 2023, MetaSight Diagnostics inked a strategic partnership with KSM Research and Innovation Center to conduct extensive research on metabolomics.
⬝ In June 2023, Waters published updates about SELECT SERIES™ MRT systems that can increase specificity for UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics.
Top Metabolomics Market Players
Some of the key metabolomics market players engaged in providing metabolomics services include:
⬝ Biocrates life sciences
⬝ Creative Proteomics
⬝ DNA Xperts
⬝ Eremid Research Services
⬝ Human Metabolome Technologies (HMT)
⬝ Metabo Profile
⬝ Metabolon
⬝ MS-Omics
⬝ Novelgene Technologies
⬝ Synbio Technologies.
Metabolomics: The Future of Precision Medicines
Metabolomics plays an essential role in the development of tailored therapies for patients. It reduces the cost of toxicological screenings and boosts the process of drug development. Currently, the metabolomics market is witnessing advances in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, quantum computing, and machine learning. The integration of technology helps in enhancing the usage of metabolomics in the development of advanced drugs, empowering patient treatments. In the future, we anticipate the development of advanced biomarkers using metabolomics for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, it is a matter of time before metabolomics technology and a deep understanding of targeted therapies and disease mechanisms will be employed in clinical practices.
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