Citoxlab partners with EPO through strategic investment
Citoxlab, a French non-clinical contract research organization (CRO) partnered with German Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology Berlin-Buch GmPH (EPO), a preclinical oncology CRO. Jean-Francois le Bigot CEO and president of Citoxlab, told us, having a partnership in Germany is especially important because of its strong place in the biotech industry.
The partnership was partly an aim to diversify Citoxlab’s pharmacology portfolio by creating integrated-services with EPO to provide to clients. “As the unmet medical needs in oncology are still very strong, this field of research is the most active at the present time and represents 40% of the drug under development,” said le Bigot
Le Bigot explained that Citoxlab has invested in the field of biomarkers, which will be provided by EPO, and services in genomics for more than 10 years.
He also stated that the duration and complexity of clinical trials led to an interest in preclinical models – a fast-growing research domain for oncology. EPO is an AAALAC accredited organization that provides both in vitro and in vivo testing of antitumoral and/or immunostimulatory drug candidates. EPO also will bring the partnership characterized syngeneic tumor models, patient-derived xenogradt (PDX) models, and humanized tumor models.
The belief that finances often beget scientific developments and vice versa was also part of the rationale behind this partnership. Le Bigot stated in a press release, “For biotechnology companies, financial milestones are often linked to reaching specific development steps, so integrated operations optimizing time spent can be a strategic advantage.”
We reported in March that Citoxlab acquired Solvo Biotechnology to expand its drug transport analysis and assessment platform. The acquisition gave Citoxlab the capability to offer in vivo and in vitro assessment of pharmacokinetics of new drug candidates.
