CN Bio’s new bioavailability assay kit enhances drug development process
Cambridge-based organ-on-chip technology company CN Bio has introduced a new in vitro assay kit designed to assess human oral drug bioavailability. The PhysioMimix Bioavailability assay kit: Human 18 enables pharmaceutical researchers to generate predictive human data earlier in the drug development pipeline, reducing reliance on animal studies.
The kit, launched in November 2024, represents a significant advancement in preclinical drug testing methodology, offering researchers the ability to conduct complex multi-organ studies within their own laboratories. The system provides up to 18 data replicates and can simulate both intravenous and oral dosing routes, addressing a crucial gap in current drug development workflows.
Traditional methods for estimating human drug bioavailability have relied on a combination of basic in vitro assays, animal studies, and in silico modelling. Each approach presents distinct challenges, with conventional cell cultures failing to replicate the complexity of drug absorption, whilst animal models often demonstrate significant physiological and metabolic differences that limit data translatability to humans.
Integration of dual-organ technology
The system’s core technology combines two established human-derived models in a fluidically linked environment. Through a partnership with Altis Biosystems, the kit integrates the RepliGut Jejunum model with CN Bio’s FDA-recognized PhysioMimix Liver-on-a-chip technology. This dual-organ approach enables simultaneous assessment of key bioavailability determinants, including intestinal absorption, intestinal metabolism, and hepatic clearance.
Commercial availability
The kit’s development follows CN Bio’s initial launch of the PhysioMimix Bioavailability assay as part of its ADME Contract Research Service offerings in January 2024. Market demand for improved preclinical testing methods prompted the company to refine the assay into a kit format, facilitating broader access to the technology.
Lead Scientist at CN Bio, Dr Yassen Abbas, commented: “Human bioavailability is a crucial part of choosing which drug candidates to progress to the clinic, but an area that is notoriously poorly served by existing models. The PhysioMimix Bioavailability assay kit: Human 18 effectively tackles this issue, providing up to 18 replicates for our customers to profile their drug candidates in vitro, minimising risk and maximising the chance of clinical success.”
Collaborative development
The partnership between CN Bio and Altis Biosystems represents a strategic combination of expertise in organ-specific modelling. Dr Ben Scruggs, CEO of Altis Biosystems, commented on the collaboration: “Recognising the distinct market demand for new solutions to more accurately predict human bioavailability, we are pleased to be partnering with CN Bio to combine the benefits of our industry leading single-organ models into a perfused and metabolically capable Gut/Liver-on-a-chip model.”
For more information, visit: cn-bio.com/consumables/bioavailability-assay-kit/
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