Asterand licenses diabetes assay platform from Capsant Neurotech

Asterand (LSE: ATD), a provider of human tissue and cell-based services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, has acquired an exclusive license on a worldwide basis from fellow UK-based, privately-held Capsant Neurotechnologies and the introduction of isletOrganDOT, a novel 3-D cell based assay platform for evaluating therapeutic compounds for diabetes. Financial terms were not revealed.

Thomas Mander, vice president sales and marketing at Asterand, noted: “Following a successful evaluation phase, we are extremely pleased to have secured an exclusive license from Capsant and to be launching the isletOrganDOT system today to add it to our growing suite of PhaseZERO human-based drug discovery services. Cell based models for diabetes research have relied on cell lines or intact rodent and human isolated islets, but both models have limitations. Asterand’s isletOrganDOT system offers advancements in functionality, throughput and study design, allowing us to provide our clients with relevant human data on the effects of test compounds in a rapid and reproducible manner.”

Graham Place, senior department head biochemical pharmacology at Asterand UK, commented: “The isletOrganDOT 3D tissue culture system replicates, under physiological and pharmacological control, the release of mediators from human islet cells. Asterand has made a significant investment to create this innovative, validated and quality controlled platform. The platform supports human reconstituted primary islets in a manner that allows cells to retain functionality for up to 14 days in culture. This feature permits carefully timed and repeat dosing regimes for test compounds. In addition, the 24-insert plate format and the ability to run multiple plates within a single study offers our clients numerous options for testing batches of early hit compounds through to in-depth profiling of lead/pre-clinical compounds. We are pleased to assist our clients in their discovery and development of new treatments to combat the global health challenge of diabetes.”