Sygnature Discovery have collaborated with Axol Bioscience to launch SCANME (Screening for Anti-Neuroinflammation Molecular Entities), a humanized neuroinflammation in vitro platform powered by axoCellsTM. SCANME provides a scalable, human-relevant disease model which produces robust and reproducible data, accelerating the path from compound discovery to clinical insights.
The current state of drug development in neurodegenerative diseases and the value of SCANME
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s Disease to name a few (1). Therefore, there have been efforts uncovering prime drug targets and developing therapies targeting key inflammatory markers to alleviate disease and aid in disease regression.
However, despite the efforts in industry, the drug development process is notoriously slow with high clinical failure rates exceeding 96%. For instance, the first drug targeting the amyloid hypothesis for AD was only approved in the US last year, after a 40-year R&D cycle. Evidently, high attrition rates and slower translations into clinical practice are some of the key barriers affecting drug development in this space.
In addition, while animal models have been able to enhance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of these diseases, they are still limited in their ability to draw human-relevant conclusions and the presence of translational differences highlight the importance of developing better models and methodologies that more closely mimic human conditions to improve the success rate of therapies in clinical trials.
What if we had a more human-relevant disease modeling platform specifically focused on finding anti-inflammatory molecular entities that combat neuroinflammation?
This is what SCANME hopes to provide. SCANME (Screening for Anti-Neuroinflammation Molecular Entities), is a humanized neuroinflammation in vitro platform powered by axoCells(TM) microglia. SCANME leverages human iPSCs-derived microglia, to offer biologically relevant insights that increase confidence in clinical translation and help ‘humanize’ drug discovery.
A standout feature of SCANME is its integration of High Content Imaging (HCI), which captures multiple parameters simultaneously during disease modeling, enriching biological understanding. Additionally, the platform’s flexibility and scalability offer a range of customizable options to suit various research needs.
Here is what Max Mirza, Vice President, Neuroscience Drug Discovery had to say about Sygnature’s collaboration with Axol,
“Our collaboration with Axol Bioscience, a leader in manufacturing functionally relevant human iPSC-derived cells, ensures that we provide the highest quality cells and technical support. This partnership combines unparalleled expertise and innovative approaches to deliver optimal research outcomes.”
Similarly, Ashley Barnes, Chief Scientific Officer at Axol Bioscience, added
“Sygnature is renowned for its quality in vitro screening cascades, and we are delighted to collaborate with the company to see human iPSCs used at scale. Supplying the Biopharma community with high-quality human iPSCs will significantly enhance drug discovery pathways and reduce risk in this challenging space. Hopefully, that translates to better therapies to patients living with the conditions.”
Learn more here: SCANME neuroinflammation in vitro platform (sygnaturediscovery.com)
Read Sygnature Discovery’s full press release here: Sygnature Discovery Unlocks Life-Changing Treatment Options with New Human Disease Modeling Platform – Sygnature Discovery
The SCANME platform utilizes axoCellsTM microglia in high-content imaging in vitro screening workflows at scale
The SCANME platform makes use of the axoCells microglia, a key neuronal cell type implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia are the main immune cell of the brain with crucial roles in brain development, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and homeostatic maintenance. They are frequently used in co-culture with neurons and muscle cells to model AD and ALS, and in monoculture for compound screening.
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (IPSC)-derived microglia are made by differentiating iPSCs from reprogrammed donor blood samples. They therefore retain the phenotypic characteristics of the donor, producing a more human-relevant model system. This also opens up exciting applications of disease-derived microglia to test potential therapies in specific human disease models and shows the incredible opportunity they pose as a primary component of the SCANME platform.
We’ve extensively characterized our axoCells Microglia to ensure the correct morphology and expression of key cell markers via immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. We manufacture them to ISO 9001 standards to ensure high quality and consistency, at scale, to fuel robust in vitro neurodegenerative disease models.
Another key aspect of what we do here at Axol, is that our axoCells Microglia undergo functional quality control (fQC) to ensure their functional performance. Key functional aspects of microglia function within the central nervous system include chemotaxis (allows microglia to locate and move toward sites of damage, ensuring a swift immune response), phagocytosis (crucial for clearing debris and pathogens, preventing further damage and facilitating tissue repair) and cytokine release (plays a vital role in regulating immune responses, influencing both inflammation and communication with other cells).
Through fQC, our axoCells Microglia exhibit phagocytosis of various baits including myelin basic protein, S. aureus and beta-amyloid. This activity is inhibited by cytochalasin D. In addition, axoCells Microglia demonstrate expected chemotaxis to various concentrations of C5a, with very large concentrations exhibiting an expected inhibitory effect. Lastly, axoCells Microglia exhibit the expected pattern of functional cytokine release.
Our axoCells Microglia are suited for a broad spectrum of applications, including academic research, biotechnology innovations, and operations in large Contract Research Organizations.
To make an order or request a quotation, please contact operations@axolbio.com.
For more data and information about our axoCells microglia, please download our axoCells 2024 catalog 2024 axoCells iPSC Catalog | Axol Bioscience
Better models, better treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases
As a leader in manufacturing functionally relevant human iPSC-derived cells consistently and at scale, this collaboration with Sygnature Discovery proves to be another significant step towards us making continuous impact in neurodegenerative disease research and drug discovery. Human iPSCs provide the opportunity to build human-relevant disease models and thus, can aid in discovering better therapies.
We remain committed in supporting researchers and the industry at large in unlocking the power iPSCs have in producing outcomes that have the ability to transform lives. We believe strongly in the power of collaboration to unlock such possibilities. With our combined expertise and willingness to do our part to inflect change, we hope that SCANME will form as another tool to support the industry in making transformational strides forward.
To make an order or request a quotation for our axoCells Microglia, please contact operations@axolbio.com.
- Wilson, D.M. III et al., 2023. Hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Cell, 186(4), pp.693-714. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.032. PMID: 36803602.
