Catching up with SYNEBIO: Supporting better screening for new drug development
3D cell culture and organ-on-chip technologies have the potential to accelerate drug discovery while minimising the usage of animal testing. The success of this process depends on the efficient testing of large numbers of compounds by means of high-throughput screening (HTS). Launched with this goal in mind, the EU-funded SYNEBIO project demonstrated the effectiveness of a patented HTS microfluidic platform for the continuous perfusion of 3D human cell models, proving its relevance for drug screening. SYNEBIO ended in mid-2024, but its success spurred the creation of Paris-based start-up Syntopia(opens in new window), launched in March 2025.
Generating better preclinical data, cheaper and faster
A spin-off from the Laboratory of Biophysics and Evolution at French university ESPCI Paris - PSL, Syntopia combines advanced 3D cell culture, organoids and innovative microfluidics. The goal is to help pharmaceutical and biotech industries generate high-quality biological data at scale, speeding up research and reducing the currently high clinical failure rates. The company’s core product is a miniaturised, pump-free microfluidic device for 3D cell culture in a 96-well plate format. It integrates hydrogel scaffolds with continuous perfusion to maintain nutrient and oxygen flow without external pumps, reproducing physiological conditions over long-term culture and supporting co-culture and immuno-oncology assays. SYNEBIO also contributed to Syntopia’s success by facilitating direct engagement with major pharmaceutical companies such as Sanofi, Servier, AstraZeneca, Evotec and Institut Curie, whose valuable feedback guided the redesign of the system towards a plug-and-play, automation-ready format. “This combination of validated performance and confirmed market interest provided the foundation for launching the spin-off Syntopia, which now holds an exclusive licence from ESPCI Paris - PSL to commercialise the technology,” remarks Syntopia CSO Philippe Nghe, who led the SYNEBIO project. It is not only pharmaceutical and biotech companies that can benefit from the start-up’s technology. Other end users include regulatory and public health organisations seeking validated alternatives to animal testing as well as contract research organisations and academic screening platforms that can take advantage of higher reproducibility and throughput. Benefits include automation compatibility with ANSI/SLAS labware standards, reduced waste, improved physiological relevance and the generation of AI-ready biological datasets. According to Nghe, the SYNEBIO (High-throughput combinatory drugs testing on in vitro 3D cells model platform) project provided the pivotal EUR 150 000 that made Syntopia a reality. “In essence, this modest but strategic EU funding transformed a laboratory concept into a commercial-ready technology with clear societal impact and led directly to the creation of Syntopia,” the researcher concludes. The ‘Life After’ feature shines a light on finished EU-funded projects and what they have achieved since the end of EU funding. If you are interested in having your project featured as a ‘Life After’ project, please send us an email to editorial@cordis.europa.eu and tell us why!