InSphero acquires PhenoVista Biosciences

(CONNECT) InSphero has acquired PhenoVista Biosciences Inc. based in San Diego in the US state of California. According to a press release, the Schlieren-based company intends to drive forward its global growth and expansion in the USA with the acquisition of the provider of medical analysis and research services.

PhenoVista Biosciences is a contract research organization (CRO) for the pharmaceutical industry and provider of imaging analysis methods for cell cultures. With a combination of cell modeling and high-content imaging technology, the company offers researchers qualified data evaluation in all phases of substance development. In particular, the studies focus on primary cells, stem cell-derived neurons and glial cells as well as customized cell lines in various formats. By acquiring the scientific expertise of PhenoVista Biosciences, InSphero aims to strengthen its presence in the US at a time when the United States is becoming a fast-growing market for predictive biology, innovative methods and microphysiological systems, according to the announcement.

"Over the past 17 years, InSphero has built an outstanding reputation for scientific excellence, operational reliability and innovation in predictive in vitro biology," said Jan Lichtenberg, CEO and co-founder of InSphero, in the press release. "With the addition of PhenoVista, we gain highly complementary expertise, an exceptional team and a stronger operational presence in the US market. Most importantly, this acquisition enables us to serve our customers even better by combining cutting-edge biology with advanced imaging and phenotypic analysis in an increasingly integrated way and with short turnaround times."

InSphero is a spin-off of the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, based in the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich. InSphero develops 3D microtissues that are used in drug development to investigate the influence of active ingredients on the human body. ce/ww