Evotec’s kidney ‘chip’ to test drugs and speed-up trials
The contract research organisation (CRO) described the Nexplex technology as a ‘nephron-on-a-chip’, which reflects both the filtration area as well as the resorption area of a human kidney.
“The functional nephrons will be based on fully characterised human cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human kidney cells,” said spokesperson Gabriele Hansen.
Under the agreement, UK-based University of Bristol and the University of Cambridge will provide human kidney cell lines and develop the glomerular – a network of capillaries in the kidney – part of the chip respectively.
Milan, Italy-based Mario Negri Institute will provide human iPSC lines, and Evotec, who is funding the programme, will contribute its iPSC and kidney disease platforms.
Hansen told us Nexplex will accelerate and improve Evotec’s preclinical trial services, describing it as a ‘step forward to the next generation kidney platform.’
The firm did not disclose financial details of the deal, nor the cost of the technology.
“Since this will be a very unique device that will significantly improve and accelerate the drug discovery in the field of kidney diseases, the overall value will certainly outnumber development costs,” said Hansen.
Evotec continues to expand its clinical trial capabilities, announcing it had completed the acquisition of preclinical CRO Cyprotex in December last year.
In August, the firm announced it had completed the acquisition of Aptuit.
