Curi Bio Expands Curiverse With New Disease Models, 3D Tissue Casting Kits and Advanced Drug Discovery Assays
Curi Bio, a biotechnology company developing advanced human-relevant research tools for drug discovery, has announced a significant expansion of its Curiverse™ ecosystem. The expanded portfolio introduces new disease-specific cell models, pre-optimized 3D tissue casting kits, and application-ready research services designed to accelerate preclinical drug discovery and improve the quality of biological data available to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The Curiverse is described as the industry’s first closed-loop 3D tissue ecosystem, integrating disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models, functional assays, and specialized research services. The platform aims to help scientists investigate human disease biology and evaluate potential therapies without the time, cost, and technical challenges associated with independently developing and validating complex cellular models.
With the latest expansion, Curi Bio is strengthening its research capabilities across cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neuromuscular disease areas. The expanded portfolio includes solutions for rare genetic disorders, inherited cardiomyopathies, cardiac fibrosis, neuromuscular junction (NMJ) function, and high-throughput compound screening.
The company is also extending its automated research strategy to help pharmaceutical teams generate functional data more efficiently. By combining ready-to-use cellular models, standardized tissue-engineering workflows, and specialized assay services, Curi Bio intends to make advanced human tissue research more accessible to drug discovery teams at different stages of preclinical development.
New Cell Models Target Rare Diseases and Neuromuscular Research
Two new cellular products are central to the Curiverse expansion: the XLMTM Skeletal Muscle Model and iPSC-Derived Optogenetic Motor Neurons. Both products are designed to address research needs in neuromuscular biology and provide scientists with tools to study disease mechanisms and assess potential therapeutic interventions using human-relevant systems.
XLMTM Skeletal Muscle Model Supports Rare Disease Drug Discovery
Curi Bio has introduced the XLMTM Skeletal Muscle Model, which the company describes as the first and only commercially available, off-the-shelf iPSC-derived model of X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM).
XLMTM is a severe pediatric neuromuscular disease associated with mutations in the MTM1 gene. The condition can cause profound skeletal muscle weakness and impair motor function, creating substantial medical challenges for affected children and their families. Research into the disease requires experimental systems capable of reproducing relevant aspects of human muscle biology and supporting the evaluation of potential treatments.
The new model is intended to address a longstanding gap in rare disease research by giving scientists access to a commercially available human cell-based system specifically designed for XLMTM studies. Rather than requiring research teams to establish and validate their own disease models, the product offers a ready-to-use starting point for functional investigations.
The XLMTM model is designed for functional contractility assays using Curi Bio’s Mantarray™ platform. This combination enables researchers to investigate muscle performance and assess changes in contractile function during experimental treatment.
The model may support both gene therapy and small-molecule drug discovery programs targeting MTM1 mutations. Functional readouts can help researchers investigate disease-associated muscle dysfunction, characterize candidate compounds, and assess whether experimental interventions produce measurable biological effects.
By making the model commercially accessible, Curi Bio aims to help research teams move more efficiently from disease modeling to therapeutic evaluation. The availability of a standardized cellular system may also support more consistent experimental workflows across different research programs.
Optogenetic Motor Neurons Expand Neuromuscular Assay Capabilities
The second new product, iPSC-Derived Optogenetic Motor Neurons, expands Curi Bio’s cell model portfolio into motor neuron-driven neuromuscular physiology.
These cells use targeted Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) knock-in methodology to enable light-controlled stimulation of motor neurons. Channelrhodopsin-2 is a light-sensitive protein that can be used to activate cells in response to specific light stimuli. Incorporating this capability into iPSC-derived motor neurons allows researchers to stimulate neuronal activity without relying exclusively on conventional electrical stimulation methods.
The technology is designed to facilitate non-invasive functional studies of the neuromuscular junction, the specialized connection through which motor neurons communicate with skeletal muscle fibers to initiate muscle contraction.
Neuromuscular junction function is relevant to a range of disorders affecting communication between nerves and muscles. These include diseases in which neuronal signaling, muscle activation, or the integrity of the neuromuscular connection is disrupted.
By introducing light-controlled motor neurons into its commercial catalog, Curi Bio is providing researchers with another approach for investigating neuromuscular function and evaluating potential drug candidates. The cells are intended to support functional NMJ assays, enabling researchers to examine how interventions influence communication between motor neurons and muscle tissue.
The new product also expands the experimental possibilities available within the Curiverse ecosystem. Researchers can combine motor neuron models with skeletal muscle tissues to study interactions between different cell types in a more integrated system.
Curiverse Casting Kits Simplify Three-Dimensional Tissue Engineering
Alongside the new cellular products, Curi Bio is introducing Curiverse Casting Kits, a collection of pre-optimized, assay-ready bundles intended to simplify the preparation of engineered human tissues.
Three-dimensional tissue models can provide researchers with functional information that may be difficult to capture using conventional two-dimensional cell cultures. However, establishing these models often requires specialized protocols, optimized culture media, appropriate cellular inputs, and careful control of tissue formation.
The new casting kits are designed to reduce these barriers by bringing together key materials and protocols in standardized workflows. According to Curi Bio, the kits are intended to shorten the time required to establish 3D tissue experiments and generate research data.
The three offerings address cardiac tissue engineering, skeletal muscle tissue engineering, and neuromuscular junction modeling.
Cardiac Casting Kit
The Cardiac Casting Kit combines cryopreserved cells with validated culture media and protocols for producing engineered heart tissues (EHTs) on the Mantarray platform.
Engineered heart tissues allow researchers to study cardiac function in a controlled laboratory environment. Such models can be used to investigate contractility, evaluate the effects of drug candidates, and explore biological mechanisms associated with cardiac disease.
By providing the necessary materials and protocols in a coordinated package, the kit is designed to simplify tissue preparation and improve workflow consistency. Researchers can use the resulting tissues in functional studies that assess how experimental compounds influence cardiac performance.
Skeletal Muscle Casting Kit
The Skeletal Muscle Casting Kit provides a complete workflow for producing engineered muscle tissues (EMTs). Its intended applications include research using XLMTM and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) disease models.
These conditions represent distinct challenges in muscle biology, making functional tissue models valuable tools for investigating disease mechanisms and testing potential therapeutic strategies.
The casting kit is intended to help researchers establish engineered muscle tissue experiments without having to develop every component of the workflow independently. By streamlining tissue preparation, the kit may support more efficient evaluation of muscle function and disease-related changes.
Its compatibility with disease-focused models also creates opportunities for researchers to examine the effects of candidate therapies in experimental systems tailored to particular biological questions.
Neuromuscular Junction Casting Kit
The NMJ Casting Kit provides a turnkey workflow that combines motor neurons and skeletal muscle cells to create neuromuscular junction models.
These models are designed for functional NMJ assays and botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) potency testing aligned with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ISTAND initiative.
Botulinum neurotoxin potency testing is an important application because conventional approaches can involve animal-based methods. Human-relevant neuromuscular models offer a potential alternative for assessing biological activity under controlled experimental conditions.
The kit brings together the cellular components and workflow needed to establish an NMJ model, helping research teams investigate neuronal signaling, muscle responses, and the functional effects of relevant compounds.
All three Curiverse Casting Kits are designed with automation in mind. They also support Curi Bio’s broader strategy of integrating standardized tissue preparation with automated screening and research services, including 96-well high-throughput workflows powered by INTEGRA Biosciences.
Curi Engine Expands Its Research Services Portfolio
Curi Bio is also expanding its Curi Engine™ applications portfolio with four new research service offerings. These services are intended to provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with specialized biological data without requiring them to build and maintain all the underlying experimental capabilities internally.
The offerings cover cardiac fibrosis, BAG3-associated inherited cardiomyopathy, neuromuscular junction functional potency testing, and automated high-throughput screening.
Cardiac Fibrosis Assay
The Cardiac Fibrosis Assay is designed to support drug discovery programs investigating cardiac fibrosis, a process characterized by excessive accumulation of connective tissue components, including collagen, within the heart.
Fibrotic changes can affect cardiac structure and function, making the condition an important area of investigation for researchers developing treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Curi Bio’s assay combines human tissue-based modeling with quantitative biological endpoints. These include measurements of collagen deposition and fibrotic biomarkers, alongside functional contractility assessments.
The combination of structural and functional readouts is intended to give researchers a more comprehensive view of how experimental compounds affect fibrotic processes and cardiac performance.
Pharmaceutical teams can use the assay to support compound screening, investigate mechanisms of action, and assess potential therapeutic effects during preclinical research. Access to quantitative measurements may help researchers compare candidate compounds and prioritize those warranting additional investigation.
BAG3 Inherited Cardiomyopathy Assay
The second offering focuses on inherited cardiomyopathy associated with mutations in the BAG3 gene.
BAG3 plays an important role in maintaining cellular protein quality and supporting cardiac muscle function. Genetic alterations affecting BAG3 can contribute to cardiomyopathy, a group of conditions involving abnormalities in the heart muscle that may compromise its ability to pump blood effectively.
Curi Bio’s BAG3 assay uses iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes carrying BAG3 mutations to model disease-associated cellular dysfunction.
The service provides functional contractility measurements, including force, beat rate, and contraction kinetics, together with disease-relevant biomarker endpoints. These measurements allow researchers to examine multiple aspects of cardiac cell behavior rather than relying solely on molecular markers.
The assay is intended to support the development of targeted therapies for inherited cardiomyopathy. Researchers may use the model to investigate how genetic alterations affect cardiac function and determine whether candidate interventions improve relevant functional or biomarker measurements.
By combining disease-specific human cells with quantitative functional testing, the service aims to provide pharmaceutical teams with additional tools for evaluating therapeutic candidates in preclinical development.
NMJ Functional Potency Assay Advances Non-Animal Testing
Curi Bio’s NMJ Functional Potency Assay is designed to support botulinum neurotoxin potency testing using a human-relevant neuromuscular junction model.
The assay is part of the company’s efforts to advance an alternative to animal-based potency testing. Botulinum neurotoxin products require reliable methods for evaluating biological potency, and developing suitable non-animal approaches is an important area of regulatory and scientific interest.
Curi Bio previously announced that the FDA had formally accepted its Letter of Intent into the Innovative Science and Technology Approaches for New Drugs (ISTAND) pilot program. The initiative provides a pathway for evaluating innovative tools and methodologies that could support drug development and regulatory decision-making.
The agency’s acceptance of the Letter of Intent represents a step in the process of evaluating the proposed assay. It should not be interpreted as final qualification or regulatory approval of the method.
With the expanded portfolio, pharmaceutical and biologics research teams can access the NMJ Functional Potency Assay directly through Curi Bio’s expert-delivered research services.
The assay is intended to measure functional responses within a human-relevant neuromuscular model, potentially providing a platform for investigating toxin activity and supporting the development of alternative testing strategies.
The service allows researchers to access the company’s specialized model and assay capabilities without independently establishing the complete experimental system.
Automated 96-Well High-Throughput Screening
The fourth new offering expands Curi Bio’s capabilities in automated compound screening through a collaboration with INTEGRA Biosciences.
The High-Throughput 96-Well Screening Service incorporates automated liquid handling and compound dispensing into cardiac and skeletal muscle screening workflows using the Nautilai Plus™ platform.
High-throughput screening enables researchers to evaluate multiple compounds across standardized experimental conditions. In drug discovery, this capability can help teams identify promising candidates, compare compound activity, and prioritize substances for additional testing.
Automation can improve workflow consistency by reducing manual handling and supporting reproducible execution of experimental protocols. It can also help research teams increase the number of compounds evaluated within a given period.
Through the expanded service, Curi Bio aims to provide pharmaceutical companies with access to 96-well screening workflows that combine engineered tissue models with automated liquid handling.
The service is delivered through Curi Engine Research Services, giving customers access to high-throughput data generation without requiring them to establish the complete automated infrastructure in-house.
The collaboration with INTEGRA Biosciences strengthens Curi Bio’s automation-focused strategy by integrating liquid-handling capabilities into its human tissue research workflows.
Integrated Ecosystem Aims to Improve Research Accessibility and Efficiency
The Curiverse expansion reflects Curi Bio’s broader objective of connecting cell models, tissue-engineering tools, functional assays, and specialized services within a coordinated research ecosystem.
Traditional preclinical research can require substantial investment in model development, protocol optimization, instrumentation, and assay validation. These requirements may slow research timelines and create challenges for teams seeking to investigate specialized disease areas.
Curi Bio’s expanded portfolio is intended to address these issues by offering ready-to-use products and services that can be incorporated into existing research programs.
The combination of commercially available disease models and standardized casting kits provides a starting point for establishing functional tissue experiments. The Curi Engine services portfolio extends those capabilities by giving customers access to specialized assays and automated screening conducted by Curi Bio experts.
This integrated approach is particularly relevant to research programs involving rare diseases and genetically defined conditions, where access to appropriate human cell models can be a limiting factor.
The expanded capabilities also provide researchers with options for studying cardiac and neuromuscular function through multiple experimental approaches, including contractility measurements, biomarker analysis, and functional potency testing.
Commenting on the expansion, Dr. Nicholas Geisse, CEO of Curi Bio, emphasized the company’s focus on helping research teams concentrate on interpreting results and making scientific decisions rather than spending time establishing the tools needed to generate data.
“Research teams should spend their time using their data to drive decisions, not on figuring out how to acquire it,” Geisse said.
He explained that the Curiverse expansion is built around reducing barriers to advanced tissue research, from casting kits that allow teams to begin working with 3D tissues quickly to automated 96-well screening services delivered by Curi Bio specialists.
According to Geisse, each new disease model, kit, and assay service is designed to make advanced research tools more accessible while improving the quality of the resulting data.
Supporting the Next Stage of Human-Relevant Drug Discovery
With the introduction of the XLMTM Skeletal Muscle Model, optogenetic motor neurons, three Curiverse Casting Kits, and four additional Curi Engine research services, Curi Bio is broadening the range of applications supported by its human tissue research ecosystem.
The expanded portfolio addresses several priorities in contemporary drug discovery: improving access to disease-specific models, generating functional biological measurements, simplifying 3D tissue workflows, and increasing screening efficiency through automation.
The new offerings could help pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers investigate rare neuromuscular disorders, study inherited cardiac diseases, evaluate compounds targeting fibrosis, and explore non-animal approaches to botulinum neurotoxin potency testing.
Although preclinical models cannot independently establish the safety or effectiveness of a treatment in patients, human-relevant functional systems can provide important experimental evidence to guide candidate selection and subsequent development decisions.
By integrating cell products, tissue-engineering kits, and specialized research services, Curi Bio is seeking to make these tools available through a more accessible and coordinated platform.
The Curiverse expansion reinforces the company’s focus on providing research-ready technologies that help scientists generate functional data, investigate disease mechanisms, and advance the discovery of potential new medicines.
About Curi Bio
Curi Bio is accelerating the discovery of next-generation medicines through the Curiverse, the industry’s first closed-loop ecosystem unifying assay-ready iPSC-derived cells, automated high-throughput biosystems, and cloud-based data analytics for human-relevant drug discovery. The Curiverse brings together disease-specific cell models, the Mantarray and Nautilai Plus biosystem platforms, and the Pulse™ analytics engine to deliver human functional data across cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neuromuscular research. Our mission is to give researchers the tools they need to discover safer, more effective medicines, helping patients live longer, healthier lives.