Organ-Chips: A Promising Model For Human Emulation

A webinar, jointly sponsored by Emulate and Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, critically examined the models utilized by academia, government, and pharmaceutical entities to study drug toxicity. Emphasizing the promising outcomes yielded by Emulate Organ-Chips, also known as microphysiological systems (MPS), the discussion delved into the shortcomings of existing methodologies.

While conventional two-dimensional cell studies and animal models offer valuable insights, they fall short of fully replicating the complexities of human biology. In some instances, they even overlook lethal toxicities, as exemplified by the tragic case of fialuridine, a hepatitis B medication that claimed the lives of five participants during a study in 1993. Preclinical animal models failed to detect the drug's adverse effects on human livers.

Beyond the immediate risks posed to patients, inadequate models contribute to a slow and costly drug development process. The journey to bring new medications to market can span approximately 15 years, costing an average of $2 billion, with a staggering 90% failure rate for new drug applications.

In light of these challenges, researchers and drug developers are actively exploring avenues to enhance the human relevance of preclinical drug testing, asserting that Organ-Chips offer more accurate assessments of safety and efficacy readouts compared to other cell and animal models.