Xybion and Locus team up on animal and preclinical data management

US firms Xybion Medical Systems and Locus Technology say their new animal management and data analysis partnership will help streamline preclinical development and reduce research costs.

New Jersey based Xybion specialises in providing the drug and preclinical research industries with toxicology and pathology data management software, primarily through its Pristima platform.

Locus, which is headquartered in Maryland, provides contract research organisations (CROs) with a range animal management services, including breeding, the application of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols and animal welfare through its LabTracks software.

The new accord combines Pristima with LabTracks in an approach that Xybion CEO Pradip Banerjee said will meet growing industry demand for a software solution capable of managing all aspects of a CRO’s business.

Dr Banerjee explained that: “We listened to our customers and the medical research community as they told us that they need a single source to provide research facility and preclinical study management.

After meeting with the leaders in the industry and looking at the commercial products in use in research facilities, we are confident that Locus Technology has done the best job of developing a comprehensive solution.”

David Larkins, Locus’ president agreed about growing demand, suggesting the “research industry needs improved solutions to work smarter, [and have] streamlined access to and analysis of critical data, and a conduit to overall research cost reduction.”

Any solution that helps reduce costs is likely to catch the eye of most CROs, particularly those focused on preclinical research which have struggled this year as a result of cautious drug industry R&D spending.

Animal focus

The deal is not the first research animal focused accord that Xybion has signed this year. In March, the firm teamed up with Pennsylvania’s Instech Solomon to integrate the former’s Orchestra infusion system with its laboratory information system.