MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 25, 2018 /CNW/ - SGS, a leading bio/pharmaceutical, analytical and bioanalytical contract solutions provider, today announced that it is introducing new in vitro toxicology services at its Mississauga, Ontario laboratory.

The investment in instruments and expansion of the laboratory's capabilities will now allow SGS clients to establish the toxicological profiles of bio/pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics and chemicals.

The investment includes an expansion of existing cell/tissue culture capabilities, flow cytometry and mass spectrometry facilities, along with the introduction of high throughput screening, automation, and multiplexing technologies such as the MESO SECTOR S 600 for biomarker analysis. The suite of services being introduced covers over 50 analytical techniques including dermal and ocular toxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, phototoxicity, endocrine disruption, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. The new service offerings will be available under both R&D and Good Laboratory Practice (OECD, FDA Part 58) study conditions.

"Recent technical advancements and new government regulations have led to the rapid development of new, cost effective testing for the establishment of drug, device, chemical and cosmetic safety," commented Dr. Alex Perieteanu, Director of Biopharmaceutical Services at SGS Canada. "SGS is an organization with a strong global reputation for quality and integrity, and this investment aligns the laboratory with the three Rs – the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement – for more humane experimental research, and ensures patient safety and accelerating product development."

SGS's Mississauga facility has over 200 staff, and provides contract testing services within the biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, bioanalytical, and medical device segments. The facility is Health Canada and FDA registered and carries ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 (design and manufacture of medical devices) accreditations.

With 18 laboratories offering contract analytical and bioanalytical services, SGS leverages its wholly-owned global network, present in North America, Europe, and Asia, to deliver harmonized solutions to large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. In addition to testing services for the bio/pharmaceutical market, SGS also provides Phase I-IV clinical trial management, and services encompassing data management and statistics, PK/PD modeling and simulation, pharmacovigilance and regulatory consultancy.