Altis Biosystems

Caco-2 Cells: The Gold Standard for ADME... But Should They Be? For decades, Caco-2 cells have been the backbone of in vitro ADME studies, widely used to predict oral drug absorption and permeability. Derived from human colon adenocarcinoma, they differentiate into monolayers that mimic the intestinal epithelium, complete with tight junctions and functional transporters like P-gp. Their ability to simulate both passive diffusion and transporter-mediated processes has made them a regulatory favorite and a trusted tool for drug developers. But here’s the question: Is it time to challenge their status as the gold standard? While Caco-2 cells offer numerous advantages—reliability, regulatory acceptance, and decades of refinement—they also have critical limitations: 🔸 Lack of the full spectrum of intestinal enzymes 🔸 Absence of mucus and microbiota 🔸 Limited relevance to the complex interplay of factors in the human gut With advancements in organoids, microphysiological systems, and co-culture models, we now have tools that capture a more complete picture of intestinal biology. These innovations bring us closer to bridging the gap between in vitro predictions and in vivo outcomes, addressing limitations that Caco-2 cells simply can’t overcome. It’s clear that Caco-2 cells won’t disappear overnight—they’ve been instrumental in drug development. But as the industry evolves, shouldn’t we rethink the default choice? By diversifying our ADME toolbox and integrating next-generation models, we can make more informed, nuanced decisions in the drug development pipeline. What do you think—are we too reliant on Caco-2 cells? Is it time to redefine our gold standard? #DrugDevelopment #ADME #PharmaInnovation #PreclinicalResearch

We’re excited to be at the American College of Toxicology meeting in Austin! Stop by for a conversation about how our technology can drive your research forward. Whether you're looking to advance your studies or explore new research opportunities, we’re here to chat! #ACT2024

📣 Don't miss this exciting webinar to learn about the PhysioMimix® Gut/Liver-on-a-chip. Register today! https://cn-bio.online/

We’re thrilled to see this collaboration come to life, offering a gut-liver microphysiological system for human oral drug bioavailability profiling. 🙌 We’re proud to support CN Bio in developing this innovative solution that paves the way for more efficient and impactful drug development.

📣Sneak peek of our newest platform—launching soon❗ RepliGut® Crypt: A self-renewing intestinal epithelium for evaluating long-term drug exposure and epithelium repair capability. RepliGut® Crypt is the first primary stem cell-derived platform that recapitulates cell turnover in the gut (proliferation, differentiation, and migration). Using engineered cell culture inserts, primary intestinal cells establish a self-organized tissue spatially segregated into a stem cell niche alongside proliferative, differentiating, and mature cells of absorptive and secretory lineages. Designed for versatility, this new platform supports a wide range of applications: • Drug safety assessment • Drug efficacy and lead optimization • Cell proliferation studies • Inflammatory disease modeling

🌐 Why use in vitro models to study inflammatory bowel disease? IBD affects millions worldwide. Developing effective treatments requires models that accurately capture disease pathology. In vitro platforms are stepping up, especially with human stem-cell derived systems that mimic the intestinal environment. Here’s why in vitro models bring value to IBD research: 👩🔬 Human-Relevant Insights: Human-derived cell culture models closely mimic the human gut environment. This relevance is crucial for IBD research, as it offers insights more directly translatable to human biology and potential treatments. ⚡High-Throughput Screening: In vitro models are ideal for screening large libraries of compounds quickly and efficiently. This accelerates the identification of promising therapeutic candidates that could help modulate inflammation and restore barrier function in IBD. 🧪 Controlled Environment: In vitro models allow for precise control over experimental conditions, making it easier to study specific aspects of IBD pathology (e.g., barrier integrity, immune responses) without the variability of in vivo systems. 🐾 Reduction in Animal Use: In vitro models reduce the need for animal testing by providing an alternative platform for early-stage research, aligning with ethical standards and improving feasibility for large-scale studies. 💰 Cost-Effectiveness and Speed: In vitro studies are generally faster and more cost-effective than in vivo models, enabling quicker hypothesis testing and early-stage evaluation of treatment efficacy. 🔬 Mechanistic Insights: By using specific readouts like TEER, cytokine release, and cell viability, in vitro models allow researchers to pinpoint mechanisms of action, such as how a treatment affects barrier integrity or inflammatory signaling, which is valuable for drug development. Our RepliGut® platform is optimized for screening anti-inflammatory leads and advancing our understanding of IBD, bringing us closer to more effective treatments. We’re proud to support these critical efforts in the fight against IBD. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02XghRy0

Heading to #ACT2024? Stop by our posters to meet Ben Scruggs and Colleen Pike who will be sharing our innovative approaches in toxicology and drug discovery. Visit us at booth 205 to connect and learn about our RepliGut® solutions. 📅 Date: November 18-19, 2024 📍 Location: JW Marriott, Austin, Texas

Rapidly screen for anti-inflammatory leads using Repligut® Planar. Using InflammaScreen™ Services, you can assess multiple endpoints of inflammation including cellular toxicity, barrier integrity, and IL-8 chemokine secretion. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02WNrgg0

💡 Modeling Diarrhea In Vitro: Understanding Barrier Integrity with TEER Diarrhea is a common adverse event associated with many medications, including antibiotics and chemotherapy agents. In vitro models that are compatible with Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) measurements have become essential tools for predicting diarrhea risk. 📖Here’s why: 1️⃣ What is TEER? TEER measures the electrical resistance across a cell monolayer, providing a quantitative assessment of the tightness or integrity of cell junctions within an epithelial barrier. High TEER values indicate a strong, intact barrier, while low values suggest a compromised, leaky barrier – a hallmark of diarrhea. 2️⃣ Modeling Diarrhea Diarrhea can be simulated in vitro by exposing intestinal epithelial cells to stimuli that disrupt barrier function, such as inflammatory cytokines or toxins. By measuring TEER, we can assess how these agents alter barrier integrity over time, allowing us to pinpoint mechanisms and potential interventions. 3️⃣ TEER in Drug Development Understanding how new drugs affect the intestinal barrier before clinical trials helps identify and mitigate side effects early. TEER models are also ethically favorable, reducing reliance on animal testing. At Altis Biosystems, we use an automated system that measures TEER in a 96-well plate within minutes. This state-of-the-art equipment enables high-throughput, real time assessment of drug-induced barrier disruptions. Explore our website to learn how we can help with disease modeling and more ➡️https://hubs.ly/Q02WkhZM0

RepliGut® Models mimic in vivo responses to support a variety of research and pharmacological applications. Explore RepliGut® applications: https://hubs.ly/Q02V-_NJ0