Press Releases INDIGO Expands Discovery Platform to Include Zebrafish Assays

INDIGO Expands Discovery Platform to Include Zebrafish Assays

Expansion Meets Industry Demand for Pre-Clinical Models for Cancer and Environmental Research

State College, PA (23 January 2020) – INDIGO Biosciences, the recognized industry leader in nuclear receptor research, has announced the addition of four zebrafish assays to its portfolio. These additions both expand INDIGO’s robust portfolio of in vitro animal model assay systems and offer a first-in-class zebrafish model – an animal model previously only available as a live-model system.

“The addition of zebrafish assays to INDIGO’s portfolio gives discovery scientists the ability to make key determinations on the correct animal model for their research with an ortholog that was not previously available before entering animal trials. We are dedicated to expanding the offerings available to our customers, ensuring that researchers can be confident that they are ready to take the next step in development,” says Dr. Jack Vanden Heuvel, Chief Scientific Officer of INDIGO.

Zebrafish are becoming an increasingly popular model system for environmental toxicology, developmental, and biological research as their easy maintenance, high reproduction rate, and transparent appearance makes them highly versatile. In addition, since most compounds can easily penetrate the skin of the zebrafish, drug and toxicological screenings are able to be performed simply by adding these test compounds to their water. For researchers looking at nuclear receptor activity, zebrafish provide an attractive model as nearly all of the 48 human nuclear receptors are also present in the animal model.

In vitro assays, such as those offered by INDIGO, allow researchers to determine the correct animal models before entering trials, by providing important early indications of that compound’s potential for downstream concerns. With animal studies required by the FDA, selecting the animal model that provides the most representative human-surrogate is critical to assessing a potential drug’s likelihood of unwanted effects. Cell-based assay models are crucial to help make this determination prior to entering ADMET studies.

The four new zebrafish nuclear receptor assays available from INDIGO include the Androgen Receptor (AR), Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERa), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARg), and Thyroid Receptor Beta (TRb). Each is available both as a screening service or as an all-inclusive assay kit, which includes: optimized media for use during cell culture and in preparation of test compound treatments, reference agonists, luciferase detection reagents, and an assay plate.

About INDIGO Biosciences, Inc.

INDIGO Biosciences, Inc. is a leading provider of nuclear receptor and in vitro toxicology solutions that accelerate scientific decision-making. INDIGO supplements the world’s largest portfolio of nuclear receptor kits and services and in vitro toxicology solutions with greater results readability, reproducibility, and faster turnaround times. Our solutions, plus supportive team and reliable science and platforms aim to reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with the discovery process. Learn more at www.indigobiosciences.com.

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