In Vitro and Ex Vivo Disease Models
Human-Relevant Disease Models for Translational Drug Discovery
Modern drug discovery increasingly relies on in vitro and ex vivo disease models that more closely recapitulate human pathophysiology than conventional cell culture alone. These models enable researchers to investigate disease mechanisms, validate therapeutic targets, evaluate efficacy, elucidate mechanism of action (MOA), and identify biomarkers before advancing into animal studies.
WuXi Biology and Testing offers a comprehensive portfolio of disease-relevant model systems ranging from conventional cell-based assays to advanced 3D spheroids, organoids, patient-derived models, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived systems, and ex vivo tissue preparations. Combined with integrated pathology, high-content imaging, and biomarker analysis, these platforms generate robust translational data across multiple therapeutic areas while supporting programs from target validation through lead optimization.
Comprehensive Disease Model Services Across Drug Discovery
Our in vitro and ex vivo disease model services support every stage of early drug discovery, from target validation and hit identification to lead optimization and translational research. Built around validated disease models, advanced analytical technologies, and deep therapeutic area expertise, these capabilities enable comprehensive evaluation of disease biology, pharmacology, efficacy, mechanism of action, and biomarkers across a wide range of indications and therapeutic modalities.
Our capabilities include:
- Disease model selection and development: Establishment and optimization of disease-relevant cellular and ex vivo models tailored to specific therapeutic indications and research objectives.
- Pharmacology and efficacy studies: Target validation, phenotypic screening, mechanism-of-action elucidation, compound profiling, and efficacy assessment using disease-relevant experimental systems.
- Advanced human-relevant models: 3D spheroids, organoids, patient-derived cells, iPSC-derived models, and ex vivo tissue preparations that provide greater physiological relevance for translational research.
- Integrated pathology and biomarker analysis: Histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), RNAscope, molecular assays, digital pathology, and biomarker characterization to assess pharmacodynamic responses and disease progression.
- Support for diverse therapeutic modalities: Disease models optimized for small molecules, biologics, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted protein degraders (TPDs), cell and gene therapies (CGT), and other emerging therapeutic modalities.
- Customized study design: Flexible assay development, endpoint selection, and model optimization designed around your target biology, therapeutic area, and program goals.
Explore Disease Models by Therapeutic Area
Different diseases require different biological systems. Explore our disease model capabilities developed for major therapeutic areas.
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease
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Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
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Neuroscience
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Infectious Disease
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Oncology
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Explore Solutions for Your Program
Explore solutions by development phase, drug modality, therapeutic area, or integrated discovery needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In vitro disease models use cultured cells, primary cells, spheroids, organoids, or other engineered biological systems to study disease mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic candidates under controlled laboratory conditions.
Ex vivo disease models use freshly isolated tissues or organs that preserve native cellular architecture and physiological function for a limited period outside the body, providing greater biological complexity for translational pharmacology studies.
Our disease model platform supports drug discovery across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, including autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, respiratory disease, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, infectious diseases, and oncology. Additionally, we offer disease model generation and assay development tailored to specific therapeutic indications and research objectives.
Our disease models support a wide range of drug discovery applications, including target validation, phenotypic screening, mechanism-of-action studies, efficacy evaluation, biomarker discovery, and translational pharmacology. These capabilities help researchers generate robust preclinical data before advancing to in vivo studies.
Yes. In addition to validated, ready-to-use disease models, customized in vitro and ex vivo systems can be developed and optimized for specific targets, signaling pathways, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic modalities. This includes small molecules, biologics, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted protein degraders (TPDs), and cell and gene therapies (CGT).