Transpharmation has acquired Luxembourg-based OrganoTherapeutics, adding human stem cell-derived brain models to its preclinical contract research services for neurological drug development.
OrganoTherapeutics will continue operating as a subsidiary. The acquisition combines its patient-derived organoid technologies with Transpharmation’s established animal-based pharmacology services, allowing pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to use both approaches within the same organization.
OrganoTherapeutics develops brain organoids and assembloids from induced pluripotent stem cells for research into Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological conditions.
Brain organoids are miniature laboratory-grown models of human brain tissue made from stem cells donated by healthy volunteers or patients. They contain multiple brain cell types, enabling researchers to investigate disease biology and test experimental compounds before clinical trials.
Transpharmation Chief Executive Mark Duxon said the purchase marks an initial step toward expanding the company’s research services to include human tissues and systems alongside its preclinical pharmacology work.
OrganoTherapeutics co-founder Jens Schwamborn said its models have been used in studies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. Combining those capabilities with Transpharmation’s experience would bring complementary research approaches together, he said.
Founded as a University of Luxembourg spin-off, OrganoTherapeutics generates midbrain, striatal, cortical and hindbrain models using patient-derived and genetically engineered cell lines. Its services include model generation, compound testing, imaging, electrophysiology, molecular profiling and machine learning-based analysis.
The company also conducts programs in frontotemporal dementia and rare neurological disorders. Transpharmation’s existing research spans epilepsy, pain, neurodegeneration, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and cognition, with services focused on evaluating potential central nervous system treatments before clinical development.