Univercell-Biosolutions’ mission is to develop human cell-based assays for Diabetes drug discovery and development. Since 2011, Univercell-Biosolutions (UB) has successfully implemented its first version of immortalized Endoc-BH1 human pancreatic Beta Cells. This represents the first human adult beta cell available on the market to test potential new anti-diabetic drugs in the preclinical phase with high predictive clinical value. To date UB’s Endoc-BH1 has been adopted by 200 prestigious academic centers and 10 world pharmaceutical industry leaders. If immortalization feature of Endoc-BH1 can be seen as strength in term of unlimited quantity accessibility this also represents a market limit in term of business model and industrial applications for drug discovery (insulin stimulated insulin secretion, proliferation, apoptosis). Today, Univercell-Biosolutions will have the opportunity to further develop, improve and industrialize human beta cells assays closer to human reality, to adapt them to industrial high throughput screening assays and larger market demand, and to develop novel beta cells disease models for diabetes drug discovery.
Main objectives of the SME instrument project will be (a) to further further develop, improve and industrialize a fully physiological non proliferative human beta cells assays closer to human reality, (b)to adapt them to industrial high throughput screening assays and larger market demand, and (c) to develop novel beta cells disease models for diabetes drug discovery.
The feasibility study initially programmed within the SME instrument phase 1 included several different complementary deliverables to precise and validate the opportunity to further develop and improve human cell based assays closer to human reality for diabetes drug discovery segment. Our major aim is to determine the market interest and add value of Univercell-Biosolutions Endoc-BH unique approach compared with competitive current solutions available i.e. human primary pancreatic islets, cell lines and hiPSc derived Beta cells.
Objectives of the work plan designed on the SME instrument Phase 1 were:
1- Development of a targeted marketing strategy,
2- Validation of the industrial needs and their interest,
3- Validation of Univercell-Biosolutions IP freedom to operate and IP robustness
4- Definition of a comprehensive Business plan including pricing and commercial strategy
5- Anticipate large scale commercialisation by providing adapted technical results
