In Vitro Efficacy Testing of IBD Drugs

Animal experimentation plays a key role in the development of new drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, it is ethically questionable and limited in throughput. Reliable and valid in vitro assays provide an opportunity to overcome these limitations. The in vitro assay provides a simple and scalable method for IBD drug screening and is essential for understanding the molecular mechanisms (particularly the intestinal barrier) and developing effective IBD treatments.

Fig. 1. Development and characterization of in vitro IBD mucosal constructs. (Holman et al., 2023)

Our In Vitro Efficacy Testing Services

Ace Therapeutics has extensive experience in in vitro efficacy evaluation of IBD drugs to meet your diverse testing needs. We offer co-culture models that mimic the environment in which the disease occurs and evaluate the effects of drugs on cellular interactions, intestinal mucosa, and inflammatory signaling.

Ace Therapeutics provides a range of in vitro assays to help clients perform IBD drug screening and mechanistic studies more efficiently.

• MTT assay/CCK-8 assay. We can assess the toxicity and proliferative effects of IBD drugs on cells.
• Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement. Changes in the TEER can be monitored, measured, and plotted against time in cultures exposed to test compounds, which can be used to assess potential repair of a damaged epithelium or the prevention of damage by compounds supplied by the client.
• Paracellular permeability assay. We can assess the permeation of FITC-labelled dextran-20 (FD20) across the epithelial layer of the IBD models.
• Protein expression analysis. We can assess the effects of IBD drugs on relevant signaling pathways by quantifying the expression of specific proteins of interest in cells.
• Immunostaining. We can assess the potential damage and disruption of the tight junction proteins caused by inflammation.
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We can measure cytokine levels in cell culture supernatants.
• Flow cytometry. We can detect the rates of apoptosis and necrosis and to assess the mode of cell death using dyes (e.g. Annexin V/PI staining).

Support Your In Vitro Efficacy Testing of IBD Drugs

At Ace Therapeutics, we are dedicated to assisting pharmaceutical companies and research organizations in the development of effective therapies for IBD. Our comprehensive support services aim to enhance the drug development process through rigorous in vitro efficacy testing and safety assessments. We can help clients:

• Obtain high-quality data on the safety and toxicity of IBD drug candidates.
• Identify potential adverse effects early in the IBD drug development process.
• Evaluate the efficacy and potency of IBD drug candidates.
• Collect pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
• Investigate the mechanism of action of drug candidates in more depth.

At Ace Therapeutics, we have reliable in vitro models of IBD to support your needs in preclinical drug testing. We offer customized technical solutions to best meet your requirements and goals, with a special focus on feasibility studies and personalized project management. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.