AstraZeneca and TissUse collaboration progresses with creation of MPS models

The collaboration between AstraZeneca and TissUse is progressing with the establishment of relevant microphysiological system (MPS) models based on TissUse’s multi-organ-chip technology, the companies announced.

During the collaboration so far, the companies have looked at the unmet need for a physiologically relevant human ex-vivo type 2 diabetes model, resulting in a human microfluidic two-organ-chip model to study pancreatic islet–liver cross-talk based on insulin and glucose regulation for up to 15 days in culture. This work is continuing to further develop the technology into a comprehensive type 2 diabetes-on-a-chip model.

“Miniaturised human multi-organ systems are capable of generating crucial, unprecedented data during preclinical assessment of drug candidates and are expected to increase success rate in drug development. We are happy to be able to support AstraZeneca in their aim to bring innovative medicines to patients worldwide,” said Dr Uwe Marx, CEO of TissUse.

“There is great potential for the innovative multi-organ-chip technology to enhance our approaches in drug development. Our collaboration with TissUse enables us to utilise the technology to advance our understanding of the biological control in key unmet disease areas such as type-2 diabetes. We look forward to the results from the advanced model that is currently under development,” added Dr Regina Fritsche-Danielson, head of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases at AstraZeneca’s IMED Biotech Unit

TissUse is a Berlin-based, growth company, which has developed a multi-organ-chip platform that provides preclinical insight on a systemic level using human tissue. This technology platform consists of a miniaturised construct that closely simulates the activity of multiple human organs in a physiological context.