Organovo to Test "Patches” for Patients Awaiting Liver Transplants
Summary
Organovo unveiled its plans to develop “therapeutic” tissue after showing in preclinical animal studies that bio-printed liver patches successfully grafted, formed blood vessels, and functioned normally, according to a statement today.Organovo said the experimental technology’s path to human therapy would begin with a formal, preclinical development program focused on liver disease.The move represents a step toward a long-term goal that led to the formation of Organovo in 2007—of developing technology capable of bio-printing whole livers, kidneys, and other vital organs.In the meantime, Organovo has built a business that uses its bio-printing technology to create 3D samples of human liver tissue (the ochre-colored stuff in the cell culture tray in top photo) for use in testing the toxicity of pre-clinical drug candidates.The company currently works with seven global pharmaceutical giants, and last month announced plans to offer similar contract research services for testing the toxicity of pre-clinical drug candidates on the kidneys.