Molecular Devices inks deal with HUB Organoids to advance automated intestinal organoid screening technology

HUB Organoids

SAN JOSE, Calif., and UTRECHT, Netherlands, Feb. 13, 2023Molecular Devices, LLC., a leading provider of high-performance life science solutions, and HUB Organoids (HUB), the pioneer in the field of adult stem cell-derived organoids, today announced a strategic collaboration enabling continued development of next-generation 3D biology technologies that drive step-change reduction in pre-clinical to clinical drug attrition.

Under terms of the agreement, Molecular Devices will license cutting-edge HUB Organoid Technology to work with patient-derived intestinal organoids, expanding Molecular Devices’ 3D biology expertise beyond organoid types like heart and brain. The physiologically-relevant adult stem cell-derived organoids closely resembling human biology, will be used to demonstrate proof of concept for an end-to-end automated workflow that encompasses instrumentation and software analysis.

“Aligning with HUB Organoids supports our mission to fully automate complex protocols that increase efficiency and precision of biologically testing new therapeutics and future medications for patients,” said Susan Murphy, President of Molecular Devices. “HUB’s proven technology has been used to select drugs for Phase 1 clinical trials. Through this collaboration, we will enable the scale and reproducibility that drug hunters need to confidently participate in a new era of drug discovery and development.”

According to HUB, HUB Organoids® can speed up the drug development timeline to about five years, down from the industry’s expected 10- to 15-year bench-to-bedside window. Organoid applications coupled with innovative, automated solutions from Molecular Devices that culture, image, and analyze 3D models repeatably, give researchers an opportunity to screen with more physiologically relevant cell systems in a high-throughput manner to get drugs to market faster.

“With this new license deal, we are bringing together HUB´s world-leading organoid technology with Molecular Devices´ innovative, end-to-end workflow solutions, empowering scientists to increase the throughput for their experiments and tests,” said Bahar Ramezanpour, CBO at HUB. “We believe this partnership will enable scientists to achieve greater scale and reproducibility when working with patient-derived organoids.”

In 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0aimed at reducing animal testing in the drug discovery process. More physiologically relevant cell models like organoids have the potential to fill the gap as they better predict how a potential drug candidate will affect patients.

To learn more about Molecular Devices’ work advancing organoid research, click here.

About Molecular Devices

Molecular Devices is one of the world's leading providers of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems, software and consumables for life science research, pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic development. Included within a broad product portfolio are platforms for high-throughput screening, genomic and cellular analysis, colony selection and microplate detection. These leading-edge products enable scientists to improve productivity and effectiveness, ultimately accelerating research and the discovery of new therapeutics. Molecular Devices is committed to the continual development of innovative solutions for life science applications. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California with offices around the globe. Visit Molecular Devices at www.moleculardevices.com.

About HUB

HUB Organoids (HUB) is the global leader in the field of adult stem cell-derived organoid. The technology invented by HUB’s scientists in the lab of world-renowned Prof. Hans Clevers represents a paradigm shift for drug discovery and development, preclinical patient stratification, predictive diagnostics, personalized medicine, clinical trials, regenerative medicine, and companion diagnostics. HUB offers licenses to its proprietary technology, provides drug screening services and access to its living organoid biobanks. Visit HUB at www.huborganoids.nl.