Repositive expands preclinical cancer model offering
The company’s ‘Cancer Models’ product was originally focused on patient derived xenograft (PDX) models. The offering now also includes 3D in vitro systems as well as translational cancer models.
Repositive’s platform provides researchers with a “holistic, searchable, comparable view” of existing cancer models, according to the company. Currently 12 contract research organizations (CROs) have partnered with the company to use the product in an aim to manage and analyze preclinical models.
Unlike most existing catalogs, Repositive’s offering is accessible to all interested commercial parties, whereas many catalogues are exclusively run by a CRO and are only accessible to a particular group of researchers, the company told us.
The searchable aspect of the tool is imperative, the company said, as it enables researchers to find models narrowed down to specific genomic characteristics that preclinical studies may require.
Additionally, the platform uses security and IP protection so researchers can locate models confidentially without revealing information about current or future projects.
Repositive also has established a social network enabling researchers to share genomic research data. The Translational Oncology Network is a pre-competitive community in which researchers can share the latest technologies used and discuss what issues are facing the industry.
Fiona Nielsen, CEO and Founder of Repositive said in a press release that the company established the network and product platform in an aim to remove “the barriers that researchers face in accessing essential data.”
Rethinking preclinical research
The industry has raised concerns that current animal study designs may hinder effective and efficient drug development. Subsequently, the use of organoids and other novel preclinical models have grown.
Exemplifying this shift, Celprogen recently used 3D printing to create a brain organoid for use in neurological disease research. The model was able to characterize 11 lead compounds in neuropathological research.
Organovo also has printed a human liver for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), and toxicology testing.
Aside from 3D printing, instrumentation and software applications have been used by Emulate to develop a Human Emulation System using Organ-Chips. These chips recreate natural physiology and mechanical forces that cells experience in the human body, therefore, advancing drug discovery and development processes.
