CRO Pharmatest, Taconic create first-of-its-kind model for bone metastasis
According to the genetically engineered mouse models provider and preclinical contract research organization (CRO), the model has both human cancer and immune cells in the bone, which enables researchers to study various cancer drugs on bone metastasis, including immuno-oncology drugs.
Dr. Azusa Tanaka, product manager for Taconic's precision research model portfolio said this is the first commercially available in vivo model that combines the human immune system, hematopoiesis, and intractable bone metastasis.
“With this innovation, immune-oncology researchers now have an in vivo humanized model to study new immunotherapies that target cancers that metastasize to bones,” Tanaka told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
“As bone metastasis is difficult to target and treat, and because the bone itself is noted to induce drug resistance, the preclinical evaluation of new therapies in more translatable bone metastasis models may increase the likelihood of developing effective treatments,” she said.
Additionally, tumors that have metastasized to the bone often have significantly different protein surface expression, which makes them highly incurable with current cancer medication, Tanaka explained.
“There is a high unmet need for this important field and Taconic is excited to be part of the solution,” she added.
Commenting on the collaborative relationship with Pharmatest, Tanaka said it has led to several presentations at global conferences – and the relationship is expanding. “More importantly,” she added, “it represents an opportunity for both companies to provide their customers with exclusive products and strong supporting data.”
