The University of Cardiff spin-out company is presenting its technology, based on protecting liver cells (hepatocytes) in a unique matrix, at today's UK parliamentary event run by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).
The UK government set up the NC3Rs in 2004 to bring together representatives from academia, industry, government and animal welfare organisations in order to minimise the numbers of animals used in clinical research and improve their welfare.
Normally, cells isolated from a body must be used immediately because they begin to die within a few hours. However, Abcellute CEO Alex Watson told DrugResearcher.com that the technology can preserve cells long enough to be shipped "anywhere in the world." This could stop pharma companies needing to extract cells from their own animal supply, reducing the number of animals needed for research.
"Using the technology, we could produce enough cells from a single primate to supply almost all of the large pharmaceutical firms, biotechs or CROs in Europe," he said.
"Until now, having a reliable source of fresh hepatocytes has been a real problem for researchers and can result in the unavoidable use of animals," continued Abcellute's chief scientific officer, Dr Nathan Griffiths.
Refrigeration can slow the decay process down but it doesn't prevent irreversible metabolic changes occurring within the cell. An alternative option is to freeze the cells using liquid nitrogen - cryopreservation.
However, Dr Griffiths said: "This results in less than optimal cells for preclinical evaluation."
Although some of the cells can survive, frozen, for a long time, the subsequent yield once thawed is very low. Also, many of the natural metabolic systems are diminished in activity, such that subsequent experimental results may be incomplete, according to Abcellute.
Abcellute say its technology can preserve liver cells for up to five days, removing the need for researchers to extract cells on a daily basis. The cells are the same as if freshly isolated, with the same cell viability and metabolic activity, according to Dr Griffiths.
"Currently, we are concentrating on hepatocytes cells, which are vital for pharmaceutical preclinical toxicology evaluations of new drug candidates," he continued.
Once extracted, the cells are immersed in a solution that forms a solid matrix around them and protects them from degradation and shock. Abcellute also said the technology can actually improve the quality of the liver cells after they have been in the resting state for 24 hours.
Prior to use, the matrix is warmed to 37°C and then simply washed away, reactivating the cells so they retain their 'intact whole organ' characteristics, said Abcellute.
Watson explained that the extraction process negatively affects cells, yet the technology appears to protect the cells as they revitalise.
"The cells seem to go into a recovery phase and so, if removed after 24 hours, they appear to be even healthier," he said.
The technology has several other potential uses, including preserving other cell types. Watson said that, for example, cells from the lung could be preserved to test the absorption of inhaled drugs. He also revealed that the company are working with Dr Charles Archer at the University of Cardiff on his cartilage repair research using progenitor cells.
"There are a number of pilot experiments we are looking to get involved in," Watson said. "Perhaps the most exciting applications in the future will be in the field of regenerative medicine."
Another potential application would be preserving islet cells prior to infusion into diabetic patients.
Watson also revealed the company have had the technology evaluated by several "very large" pharmaceutical firms with positive results.
A spokesperson for one Japanese pharma company which, for the mean time, wanted to remain anonymous said: "The quality of the hepatocytes four days after preservation was comparable to that of freshly isolated hepatocytes."
A license deal with a large Japanese pharma firm will be announced within the next month, Watson told DrugResearcher.com.
The companies presenting their work were competitively selected by NC3Rs to present their work. A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The research projects featured, including Abcellute's, are all excellent examples of how it is possible to replace, refine or reduce the use of animals in research while continuing to carry out high-quality science."
