Japanese manufacturing firm Fujifilm has invested in California-based contract research organisation (CRO) PhenoVista Biosciences, a custom and off-the-shelf imaging-based assay services provider.
The undisclosed investment is intended to expedite the development of new high-content screening (HCS) assay services using the differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of FUJIFILM iCell and PhenoVista’s imaging technologies.
Fujifilm said that the investment is funded through its Life Sciences Corporate Venture Capital (LS-CVC) strategic investment fund.
According to the Japanese firm, the investment strengthens the strategic partnership between PhenoVista and its subsidiary FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, a global producer and manufacturer of human iPSCs.
Through the alliance, which was established in November 2021, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics aims to further grow its drug-discovery business by working together to develop high-content, imaging-based assays using differentiated cells from human iPSCs.
The iPSC-based HCS test services can track complex intracellular processes in individual human cells that are implicated in the course of the disease. It will assist pharmaceutical companies in their drug-discovery procedures, Fujifilm added.
FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics president and CEO Tomoyuki Hasegawa said: “Fujifilm brings a wealth of expertise in imaging to the life sciences arena, and in collaboration with PhenoVista, will continue to help our shared customers with their efficient drug-discovery processes through the combination of highly relevant, human cell types and powerful HCS capabilities and experience.
“This investment will continue to support the growth and expansion of our iCell business in addition to our advanced offering of cell applications by growing customer access to HCS assays using our iPSCs.”
With the additional funding, Fujifilm will have access to PhenoVista’s imaging technology and expertise, further solidifying their current collaboration.
The new funds will help PhenoVista to develop new, ready-to-use assay services using a range of FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics’ iCell products.
The goal of this new assay platform is to speed up the discovery and development of secure, effective treatments, the Japanese manufacturing firm added.
Additionally, Fujifilm and PhenoVista will coordinate their marketing efforts to increase consumer acceptance of new discovery research tools built on iPSCs.
