VoxCell BioInnovation and adMare BioInnovations have announced a new research partnership to validate both the scientific and commercial viability of a novel antibody-based immune-modulating therapy.
The therapy will use VoxCell's human-relevant vascularised cancer tissue models, which it creates by combining human tumour, immune and stromal compartments with a perfused, endothelial-lined vasculature in a single bioprinted construct.
Its models are designed to support large biologics, immune-modulating therapies and other modalities in which antibody transport, endothelial barrier function and immune complexity drive in vivo behaviour.
The duo have announced the partnership as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advances its plan to reduce animal testing for monoclonal antibodies and other biologics, thus expanding the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to improve preclinical translation rates.
"adMare's mission is to translate breakthrough scientific discoveries into strong, investable Canadian life science companies and new therapies that reach patients," said Matthew J. Carlyle, President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations.
By integrating VoxCell's human-relevant vascularised tissue platform into our scientific and commercial validation process, we can generate stronger preclinical safety and efficacy evidence sooner.
"This helps us de-risk innovation, create long-term value and turn promising science into scalable, globally competitive Canadian companies."
"Animal models often miss the biology that determines whether a human drug works," added Dr Karolina Valente, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of VoxCell.
"Our vascularised tissues bring perfusion, endothelial barriers, immune cells and stroma into one human-relevant system."
Working with adMare on a novel biologic is exactly the use case the FDA had in mind when it called for more predictive, human-relevant tools. The result is better decisions earlier and fewer animals used along the way.
The pair added that the data generated under the collaboration will inform adMare's programme development and contribute to a broader effort to qualify VoxCell's vascularised cancer tissue model as a reference NAM for immuno-oncology biologics.