‘Increasing visibility’: Repositive relaunches Cancer Models platform with accessible directory

11-Jul-2019 - Last updated on 11-Jul-2019 at 14:34 GMT

(Image: Getty/Bet_Noire)

Repositive ‘increases visibility’ while ‘maintaining confidentiality’ as it makes its directory of preclinical cancer models publicly browsable as part of the relaunch of its Cancer Models Platform.

The online directory will enable pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic researchers to browse the metadata of cancer models from Repositive’s contract research organization (CRO) partners and request access to supporting data when fully launched next year.

Repositive created the directory, in which researchers can see all 5,300 models in one portal, through partnerships with 18 specialist CROs including Cellesce, Nexus Pharma, Antineo, Xentech, Shenzhen Invivo, and Shanhgai LIDE Biotech. Additionally, Repositive created this source through partnerships with its confidential Cancer Models Scout service.

According to Repositive, the relaunch of its online marketplace Cancer Models Platform comes as drug development is advancing toward an era of precision cancer medicine, in which researchers need to source preclinical models with molecular and genomic profiles, which the platform provides.

Fiona Nielsen, CEO of Repositive told us, “We recognize that a lot of researchers initially just want to see what is out there when they first start looking for models. The average biopharma researcher consults a network of five CROs when they begin looking and many of these do not house an online catalogue of their models.”

Model validation and identification is accessible through the directory, according to Repositive. The directory enables researchers to see all data available for each model including genomic, drug response, and growth curve data to ensure to predictability of the clinical response.

Researchers also can search by tumor location for patient-derived and cell line-derived xenograft models, syngeneic and humanized mouse models, as well as cell lines and organoids. Additionally, researchers can view a list of models available from different preclinical oncology CROs.

“For our CRO partners, increasing visibility of the models they offer, while maintaining confidentiality around sensitive data, is intended to speed up the connection between them and biopharma researchers looking for models. We want to help accelerate preclinical research and making our world-leading directory publicly browsable is just the first step,” Nielsen added.

Repositive’s Cancer Models relaunch

To make research models more accessible, Repositive’s relaunch of its Cancer Models Platform will enable researchers to find and compare cancer models from various providers. The preclinical directory is the first stage of the relaunch.

Nielsen told us that by this time next year the full-service platform will be up and running to enable researchers to conduct searches and work with CROs directly. She added that the company will also offer CROs on-platform inventory management to support high-quality studies and business growth.

“It’s an evolving process and we are keen to speak to researchers from both pharma and CROs to ensure we’re building the product they need to support their preclinical efficacy studies,” Nielsen said.