Transpharmation Ltd., a science-led global leader in neuroscience, pain and metabolic disease preclinical contract research, announces acquisition of Luxembourg-based OrganoTherapeutics SARL, a leader in patient-derived organoid technologies that advance the discovery and development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative/CNS disorders.
Following decades of slow progress, discovery in the neurodegenerative space has entered a new era. Understanding and treatment of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are rapidly transforming, with worldwide breakthroughs in genetics, biomarkers, patient-derived cellular models, organoids and translational neuroscience.
Commenting on the acquisition, Dr. Mark Duxon, CEO of Transpharmation Ltd., stated: “Transpharmation has built a reputation for translational in vivo pharmacology over the last 25 years. With the acquisition of OrganoTherapeutics, the company is taking its first step in fulfilling its ambition to build translational CRO services that include human tissues and systems. A clear future is seen for the business in the provision of non-animal models alongside its preclinical pharmacology. Drug discovery requires better prediction of drug action and efficacy prior to clinical trials. Being at the forefront of patient-derived 3D organoid work, particularly in the Neurology space, is expected to help provide clients with increased confidence in their molecules and targets.”
OrganoTherapeutics will continue to operate as a subsidiary of Transpharmation Ltd., with a seamless transition fostering collaboration to amplify the strengths of both organizations. The Co-Founder of OrganoTherapeutics, Dr. Jens Schwamborn, responded by saying: “Joining Transpharmation is a logical next step for OrganoTherapeutics. Over the last few years, the company has built human iPSC-derived brain organoid and assembloid models for Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and has used them in many studies for pharma and biotech partners. Together with Transpharmation’s long experience in translational in vivo pharmacology, the combined company can now offer clients both approaches under one roof and help them make better decisions earlier in drug development.”
Through the acquisition, Transpharmation and OrganoTherapeutics will bring together complementary expertise in translational neuroscience and human stem cell-derived organoid technology. The combined capabilities will enable biopharma sponsors to investigate disease biology, validate targets and evaluate novel therapeutics using both advanced human-relevant models and established translational research platforms. By integrating these approaches, Transpharmation aims to provide a more predictive path from discovery to development and help accelerate innovation in neurodegenerative disease research.
As researchers gain access to more predictive human-relevant systems and vast biological insights, discoveries are emerging at an increasingly rapid pace. The therapeutic landscape for these areas is in active transformation, and a large team of organoid and neurodegenerative disease experts with a breadth of knowledge in the field provides an ideal toolkit for researchers.
Brain organoids are miniature, lab-grown models of human brain tissue made from stem cells donated by healthy volunteers or patients. They contain many of the brain’s key cell types, so scientists can study brain diseases such as Parkinson’s in real human cells and test promising new treatments more effectively before clinical trials.
Luxembourg-based OrganoTherapeutics specializes in patient-specific midbrain organoid and assembloid models of Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases developed from its own research.
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS slowly damage nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Very few treatments can slow them down, and many medicines that looked promising in early lab work have failed once they reached patients. One reason is that traditional research models, such as animals or simple flat layers of cells, don’t fully capture how these diseases behave in the human brain.
Human-relevant models help close that gap. Brain organoids are grown from human stem cells, sometimes from a patient’s own cells, so researchers can study disease in living human tissue.
When these models are combined with established preclinical approaches, scientists get a clearer picture of how a potential treatment is likely to work in people. That can help researchers make better decisions earlier, cut down on costly late-stage failures, and bring effective therapies to patients sooner.
Transpharmation is a contract research organisation led by scientists. Recognised by drug developers worldwide for researching and delivering life-changing medicines, the company is driven by a passion for science. Clients benefit from decades of experience in cross-species and cross-therapeutic area translational biology throughout its preclinical services. Transpharmation has a strong focus on preclinical evaluation of potential CNS therapeutics, including the areas of epilepsy, pain, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and cognition.
