The Evolution of Single-Cell Analysis and Utility in Drug Development

This review provides a brief history of the advances of cellular analysis tools focusing on instrumentation, detection probes, and data analysis tools. The interplay of technological advancement and a deeper understanding of cellular biology are emphasized. The relevance of this topic to drug development is that the evaluation of cellular biomarkers has become a critical component of the development strategy for novel immune therapies, cell therapies, gene therapies, antiviral therapies, and vaccines. Moreover, recent technological advances in single-cell analysis are providing more robust cellular measurements and thus accelerating the advancement of novel therapies.

Automated summary

This review briefly outlines the history and significance of cellular analysis tools, emphasizing the interplay between technological advancements and a deeper understanding of cellular biology, as well as the importance of cellular biomarkers in drug development. Recent advances in single-cell analysis are also highlighted for providing more robust cellular measurements and accelerating the development of novel therapies.