The startup manufactures genetically diverse stem cell-derived models to predict drug safety and efficacy across diverse populations. By providing induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived models and liver cell-based screening, the company enables pharmaceutical firms to evaluate drug candidates more effectively and understand disease biology.
Funding
$750K raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Unexpected adverse drug reactions, particularly cardiac and hepatic toxicities, are major causes of clinical trial failures and drug withdrawals. Traditional preclinical testing methods, including animal models, often fail to accurately predict human responses due to genetic and physiological differences. Furthermore, a lack of diversity in preclinical models can lead to ineffective or harmful drugs for underrepresented populations.
Solution
Cytochroma provides advanced human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell models and contract research services to improve drug safety and efficacy prediction across diverse populations. The company's iPSC-derived models, including hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, and fibroblasts, mimic human physiology more accurately than traditional animal models. Cytochroma offers customized differentiation protocols and high-throughput screening services using cells from diverse genetic backgrounds to evaluate drug candidates for potential toxicity and efficacy issues early in the drug development process. By using these human-relevant models, pharmaceutical companies can reduce late-stage failures, lower development costs, and bring safer drugs to market.
Target Audience
Cytochroma's primary customers are pharmaceutical companies and research institutions involved in drug discovery and development, particularly those focused on reducing clinical trial failures and addressing diversity in preclinical testing.
Features
- iPSC-derived cell models including ventricular cardiomyocytes, cardiac endothelial cells, cardiac fibroblasts, hepatic progenitors, and mature hepatocytes
- Disease models for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)
- High-throughput cell-based screening using robotic high-content screening
- Diverse donor panel with genetically diverse male and female human iPSCs
- Custom differentiation of iPSCs to create specific cell types
- Contract research services for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) prediction and target validation
- Capability to build complex models with allogeneic endothelial cells and stellate cells
- Option for co-culture add-ons for MASH models