CN Bio and Pharmaron Forge Long-Term Global Partnership for OOC Tech Development
In a significant stride toward revolutionizing preclinical drug development, CN Bio, a leading innovator in Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) technologies, has entered into a strategic partnership with Pharmaron, one of the life sciences industry’s most respected research and development service providers. The collaboration is poised to accelerate the adoption of human-relevant models in drug discovery workflows, reduce reliance on traditional animal testing, and pave the way for more accurate, ethical, and efficient research methodologies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pharmaron will validate CN Bio’s flagship PhysioMimix® technology across its current suite of applications, which includes advanced capabilities in disease modeling, toxicity assessments, and ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) profiling. Beyond validation, both companies have committed to a deep integration of OOC technologies into Pharmaron’s global R&D infrastructure, as well as a joint initiative to innovate and develop new applications that target existing gaps and unmet needs within the drug discovery and development landscape.
Establishing a New Standard in Preclinical Research
The collaboration between CN Bio and Pharmaron underscores a shared vision: to enhance the predictability and translational relevance of preclinical data by leveraging state-of-the-art microphysiological systems. CN Bio’s PhysioMimix platform is at the forefront of this transformation. The system enables researchers to simulate human organ-level biology using microengineered environments that recapitulate in vivo-like functionality, offering a compelling alternative to animal models and static cell cultures.
Pharmaron, with its extensive global network and a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning from drug discovery to late-stage clinical development, represents a formidable partner for the dissemination and scaling of this cutting-edge technology. By installing PhysioMimix instruments at multiple Pharmaron sites worldwide, the companies aim to facilitate broader access to and routine use of OOC platforms in pharmaceutical R&D workflows.
This first phase of the partnership will involve the deployment of PhysioMimix systems into key Pharmaron laboratories, followed by systematic evaluation of the technology’s performance across standardized preclinical endpoints. The goal is to establish robust data packages that confirm the reproducibility, scalability, and biological relevance of the OOC models across various therapeutic areas and research objectives.
Driving Innovation with Complementary Strengths
Dr. Paul Brooks, Chief Executive Officer at CN Bio, emphasized the strategic value of this partnership and the alignment of both organizations in their pursuit of innovation. “Pharmaron is a global, premier, and trusted service provider for the life sciences industry,” said Dr. Brooks. “As such, Pharmaron was the ideal partner for CN Bio as we look to accelerate the growth of our Organ-on-a-Chip solutions portfolio in both new and existing application areas. By working closely together and leveraging the industry-leading expertise of each company, we can share resources that enable us to progress new, innovative solutions from concept to global market deployment more effectively than ever before.”
The collaboration is not only about deployment but also about co-creation. Following validation, CN Bio and Pharmaron will jointly prioritize areas within Pharmaron’s R&D services where PhysioMimix can be applied to offer higher-fidelity insights into drug efficacy and safety. This strategic alignment will allow for the rapid prototyping and commercialization of novel OOC models tailored to emerging scientific and regulatory needs.
Responding to Regulatory and Ethical Shifts
The partnership arrives at a time of pivotal change in the regulatory landscape surrounding drug development. Recent announcements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signal a shift away from mandatory animal testing for certain drug modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, and a growing openness to alternative models that more accurately represent human biology.
Dr. Tomasz Kostrzewski, Chief Scientific Officer at CN Bio, commented on the timeliness and importance of this development. “The advancements this partnership will enable are especially critical in light of the FDA’s recent announcement to phase out animal testing requirements for monoclonal antibodies and other drugs in favor of more human-relevant models,” said Dr. Kostrzewski. “Our platform is uniquely positioned to serve current market gaps, including preclinical evaluation of immune-mediated organ damage, an area where traditional models fall short. Together with Pharmaron, we can expedite the transition toward more ethical and scientifically robust testing platforms that ultimately reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.”
The ethical dimension of the collaboration is particularly salient. As public and institutional pressure mounts to reduce the use of animals in research, the development of technologies like PhysioMimix offers a pathway to align scientific progress with societal values. This partnership exemplifies how technological innovation can drive systemic change, benefiting not only industry stakeholders but also broader humanitarian and ethical considerations.
Enabling Translational Science with Real-World Impact
Pharmaron’s commitment to innovation and quality in service delivery is a natural complement to CN Bio’s mission. Dr. Hua Yang, Chief Scientific Officer at Pharmaron, reinforced the organization’s enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are committed to continuous innovation that enhances the quality of our services and accelerates drug discovery and development,” said Dr. Yang. “Organ-on-a-chip technology holds significant potential to advance translational science by improving our understanding of drugability at the preclinical stage. We are pleased to collaborate with CN Bio to explore how this technology can add meaningful value to our partners’ development programs.”
This sentiment highlights an important aspect of the collaboration: its potential to influence not just internal capabilities, but also the success of client projects. By embedding OOC models into the early stages of drug development, Pharmaron aims to deliver more predictive, actionable insights to its partners, ultimately enhancing go/no-go decision-making and de-risking clinical progression.
A Platform for the Future
As the partnership progresses, CN Bio and Pharmaron will evaluate additional opportunities to expand their collaboration. Potential areas include the development of organ-specific disease models for complex conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), oncology, and autoimmune disorders, where traditional models have proven limited. Furthermore, the companies are exploring the incorporation of patient-derived cells and personalized medicine approaches within the PhysioMimix system, opening the door to precision drug testing and individualized therapeutic strategies.
This strategic alliance marks a watershed moment for both companies—and potentially for the field of drug discovery at large. By combining Pharmaron’s global reach and development expertise with CN Bio’s innovative technology, the partnership aims to set a new standard for what’s possible in preclinical research.
As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve toward models that prioritize human relevance, ethical responsibility, and technological sophistication, CN Bio and Pharmaron are positioning themselves at the forefront of this transformation—charting a path toward a smarter, faster, and more humane future for drug development.
