Reinnervate is partnering with LGC Standards for the non-exclusive distribution and sale of alvetex, its breakthrough 3D cell culture technology. LGC Standards is a division of LGC and a leading supplier of cutting-edge research tools to life science researchers across Europe.
In addition, the companies will be collaborating on the use of alvetex to generate realistic 3D cell models for drug discovery and development applications. For example, one key area of research has focused on the use of alvetex to generate liver cell cultures that closely mimic the structure and function of the same cells in the body. An accurate 3D model of the liver can allow researchers to examine the toxicity of new pharmaceuticals and be predictive of the effects of the these drugs in the body, while ultimately reducing the need for animal-based testing.
Data generated by LGC scientists, and funded by the UK’s National Measurement System, demonstrate that liver cells grown in alvetex® produce significantly higher levels of key enzymes involved in drug metabolism and improved responses of the cells to known cytotoxic compounds, than liver cells grown in conventional 2D culture.
Ashley Cooper, CEO of reinnervate, commented: “The partnership with LGC is a significant milestone for the company as we look to launch alvetex® in a range of standard multi-well formats and well inserts over the next 12 months. Alvetex is a game-changing technology that has the potential to revolutionise the use and value of cell-based applications in basic and industrial research, and as such is in great demand. In order to meet this demand, reinnervate aims to partner, on a non-exclusive basis, with multiple distributors of life sciences research products around the world and is delighted that LGC has become our first partner.”
Jeffrey Anthony, Biologicals Business Unit Manager at LGC Standards commented: “3D cell culture is widely recognised as offering many advantages to cell biologists by enabling cell behaviour that more effectively mimics in vivo characteristics. The alvetex product now makes the benefits of 3D culture routinely available to research laboratories across the world and we are delighted to enable access to this important technology in partnership with the scientists at reinnervate.”
Alvetex is a polystyrene material that provides a robust and inert scaffold for cells to grow and form complex 3D structures in the laboratory, mimicking the normal growth and formation of tissues in the body. Reinnervate has extensively tested and validated alvetex with a large number of cell types, including liver, skin, cancer and stem cells, all of which have important applications in basic research into cell development, disease modelling and drug safety screening.
Reinnervate
LGC
