AxoSim, a New Orleans-based drug discovery biotech, has successfully completed the acquisition of the neuroscience research assets from Vyant Bio’s subsidiary, StemoniX. The all-cash deal, valued at $2.25 million, encompasses Vyant’s microBrain technology, a 14,000-square-foot research and development manufacturing facility near Minneapolis, nine patents, their associated intellectual property, and the scientific team responsible for microBrain’s development.
The acquisition involved an initial payment of $1.1 million upon closing, with the remaining sum scheduled for payment in installments based on predefined milestones and the expiration of standard legal waiting periods. AxoSim’s mission is to expedite the delivery of human data to enhance neurological research and development.
The microBrain platform offers 2D and 3D human brain organoids, which are miniature cellular structures that closely mimic the structure and function of the human brain. These organoids, cultivated from astrocytes and neurons derived from a single donor’s stem cells, serve as valuable tools for investigating the effects of various chemicals on the brain’s electrical activity.
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AxoSim intends to provide this technology to its pharmaceutical industry clients for the study of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and Rett syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor function and language skills in infancy. In addition to this acquisition, AxoSim already offers NerveSim, a nerve-on-a-chip for researching nerve conduction in chronic pain, neuropathy, and neurotoxicity, as well as BrainSim, organoids comprised of cell types relevant to multiple sclerosis.
The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly turning to organoids for research and drug candidate validation, supported by the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which permits clinical trial initiation based on data from organoids, tissues-on-a-chip, and other non-animal alternatives. This is particularly relevant in neuroscience research, where animal models are inadequate representations of the human brain.
AxoSim boasts a client roster that includes 20 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in terms of size and revenue. The acquisition is seen as a step forward in advancing organoid models for drug development and reducing the risk associated with drug candidates. The convergence of advanced organoid models with AxoSim’s commercialization expertise holds great promise for the future of drug development in brain disorders and chemical risk assessment.
“This acquisition brings together the knowledge and intellectual property of some of the most advanced organoid models with AxoSim’s broad experience in their commercialization and dissemination. Brain organoids are the future for drug development in brain disorders and the de-risking of drugs and chemicals in general.”
– Thomas Hartung, M.D., Ph.D., a brain organoid researcher at Johns Hopkins University who licensed the BrainSim technology to AxoSim and is now the company’s consulting vice president of scientific affairs.
