One of the main challenges with the drug discovery paradigm has always been the poor translational gap between inexpensive in vitro studies and significantly costly in vivo studies. Traditionally, cell culture models have been inadequate in recapitulating the complex in vivo microenvironment and thus have been limited in their ability to predict in vivo efficacy and toxicity. While no model is perfect, in vivo animal studies do not well-translate to results obtained in human clinical trials, particularly with regard to toxicology [1]. Furthermore, there has been increasing pressure from regulatory bodies, especially in the EU, to reduce, refine, and replace animal experiments whenever possible.
To address these problems, researchers have begun to adopt more advanced 3D cell culture models (e.g. organoids, microtissues, spheroids) which better mimic not only the in vivo microenvironment but also gene expression and functional characteristics of tissues in vivo. Since human cell lines and primary cells can be utilized in these constructs, they provide a method for improving in vitro studies used in drug discovery and development. As a leading provider of advanced drug discovery solutions, Visikol has considerable expertise in the generation and analysis of 3D cell culture models.
Accelerate your drug discovery efforts
At Visikol, we have developed several standardized and validated 3D cell culture models utilizing cancer cell lines, primary tumor cells, as well as liver models. These models provide access to assays to evaluate cancer drug efficacy, drug induced liver injury (DILI), as well as to model various liver disease pathologies such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With these off-the-shelf models, we can begin screening compounds as soon as possible.
Custom model development
We recognize that many researchers wish to leverage their own cell lines and models to address specific research questions, and thus there may not exist an off-the-shelf model that meets their specific requirements. For these researchers, we work closely to develop customized 3D cell culture models that meet their functional, cost and throughput requirements.
How we work with Clients
We work closely with our clients to best understand their research objectives. This process involves several steps:
References
- Hartung, T. (2008). Thoughts on limitations of animal models. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 14, S81-S83.
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