New 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissues make it much easier to screen pharmaceutical compounds for repeat-dose and inflammation-related toxic effects
Zurich, Switzerland, 2. July 2012 – Swiss-based InSphero announced today the launch of 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissues for more efficient in-vitro drug screening. A co-culture model, delivered ready for use in established 2D screening workflows, 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissues offer more than 5× longer lifetime than conventional liver models, as well as the option of screening for inflammation-related toxic effects.
3D liver models are often difficult to adapt for screening purposes by pharmaceutical toxicology laboratories or are associated with very high costs, long delivery times, and complex handling and assay procedures. InSphero’s 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissue spheroids provide an easy-to-implement 3D liver co-culture model in a convenient 96-well format at an affordable cost. No new instruments or readouts are required, and no changes to workflow are required.
InSphero uses its patent-pending formation technology for 3D microtissues to mimic the natural cell composition of the human liver: these co-culture systems include not only primary hepatocytes but also macrophages such as Kupffer cells. This is the first time that reliable and automatically produced microtissues can detect even rare toxicological effects such as inflammation-mediated toxicity.
"Since 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissues are based on cryopreserved hepatocytes and macrophages, different donor products can be delivered over the years to assure continuity in drug-discovery programs”, says Dr. Simon Messner, Product Manager at InSphero.
With the new product launch, InSphero extends its existing portfolio of 3D HepG2 and 3D Rat Liver Microtissues to include toxicological assessment on a sophisticated organotypic human model. "Our team worked closely together with global pharma companies for two years to refine this product into an excellent and robust tool for drug-discovery and development groups," says Dr. Jan Lichtenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of InSphero.
The new 3D InSight™ Human Liver Microtissues are available from today. Ordering information, technical details, and information about our introductory offer can be obtained at sales@insphero.com.
