CN Bio adds capacity at organ-on-a-chip lab citing drug discovery demand

Organ-on-a-chip developer CN Bio has doubled capacity at its UK laboratory to offer contract research services to biopharmaceutical industry customers.

The facility – at the Cambridge Science Park in England – will design and manufacture single-and multi-organ microphysiological systems (MPS) for use in discovery and early drug candidate assessment.

Gareth Guenigault, lead scientist of CN Bio’s contract research services, cited growing demand as the motivation for investment in the new laboratory, explaining that drug makers are looking for more accurate models.

“This expansion is an exciting next step in the progression of our contract research services offering. As we see increasing awareness within the drug discovery, development and regulatory fields that animal models don’t always get it right, nor are ethically desirable, we are poised to offer solutions that fit researchers’ individual needs.

“By utilising the power of OOC technology to provide early stage, clinically translatable data across a range of applications, we hope to give customers greater confidence in the success of their projects, in a fraction of the time and cost.”

The lab space is the first addition to CN Bio’s offering since October when the firm launched its oncology focused drug discovery service.

Organ on a chip

CN Bio claims rising demand for services demonstrates acceptance of OOC data by pharma and biotech companies in their therapeutic programs and growing interest from regulatory agencies.

The firm’s comments are in keeping with a recent study which suggested the pharmaceutical industry has been desperately searching for efficient drug discovery methods.

In addition, analysis by Allied Market Research indicates that the global organ-on-chip market – which was valued at $103.44 million in 2020 – will be worth $1.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 31.1%.

According to the authors “During the COVID-19 pandemic, organ-on-chip emerged as a promising technology for the development of drugs and vaccines, which were under research and clinical trials for the infection. Thus, it had a significantly positive impact during the pandemic.”

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