Patent ID: 7756643

Claim:
A method for determining the biological effect and/or activity of at least one pharmaceutical composition, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a biological sample A containing DNA, said biological sample A being from at least one of an individual, a tissue, a cell or another biological material containing DNA, wherein said biological sample A was exposed to said at least one pharmaceutical composition, wherein said biological sample A is obtained from biological material of a diseased individual; (b) obtaining a biological sample B containing DNA, said biological sample B being from at least one of an individual, a tissue, a cell or another biological material containing DNA, wherein said biological sample B was not exposed to said at least one pharmaceutical composition, wherein said biological sample B is obtained from biological material of a diseased individual; (c) then, analyzing the level of cytosine methylation at chosen sites of the DNA contained in the biological samples A and B, characterized in that the level of at least 100 cytosine methylation sites is analyzed in parallel, wherein said analyzing step is performed using a suitably programmed computer; (d) selecting those of said chosen sites which are differentially methylated between the DNA in biological samples A and B, whereby a knowledge base is generated, wherein said selecting step is performed using a suitably programmed computer, and (e) concluding from said knowledge base a biological effect and/or activity that said at least one pharmaceutical composition has on said biological sample A in step (a) and communicating the conclusion to a computer via an internet or intranet connection, wherein said concluding step is performed using a suitably programmed computer.