Applications

Using Cytotheryx' Hepatocytes

With our foundational science and platform technology, Cytotheryx’ products will become the new gold standard for research and drug screening and open new doors for innovative research and therapeutic development.

Overview

The liver plays a vital role in the human body. Some of its many functions include detoxifying the blood, supporting digestion, and storing nutrients for the body’s use. The liver is also capable of a profound degree of regeneration. Combined with the fact that 80% of the liver is hepatocytes, this creates opportunities for liver cells to be used widely in research and clinical applications related to the many functions and capabilities of the liver and its cells. One of the biggest challenges facing research and development related to primary human hepatocytes, or liver cells, is the current supply. While available human hepatocytes do exist, the supply is dictated primarily by organ donations. The result is liver cells that are often inconsistent in quality and quantity when they are even available. With a more readily available, consistent, and high-quality source of primary human hepatocytes, the new gold standard of liver cells, Cytotheryx is able to provide a better solution for current uses of primary human hepatocytes while opening new doors for a wide variety of research and clinical applications.

Research Applications

The research applications of primary human hepatocytes are significant and varied. Hepatocytes are limited, costly, and inconsistent across lots of cells. With more dependability in the supply of primary human hepatocytes produced by Cytotheryx, researchers can strengthen existing applications, and consider new applications. Some applications include:

Drug metabolism and toxicity studies using our new gold standard of PHH could systematize the process of testing for interactions and toxicity in new drugs. Racial and gender diversity of our cell lines promotes equity in medicine.
Disease modeling allows us to better understand how diseases progress and impact the liver, which could be improved using primary human hepatocytes.
Regenerative medicine aims to replace tissue and organs that have been damaged or are diseased. With more access to primary human hepatocytes, researchers could better understand regenerative medicine and how to take advantage of it throughout the body.
By better understanding the biology of hepatocytes, we could open new doors for liver disease and disease-specific research.

Clinical Applications

Our platform technology enables the use of hepatocytes for the treatment of liver diseases. As with the current research applications, the finite supply of available primary human hepatocytes limits clinical innovation. Cytotheryx’ platform technology enables us to propagate clinically safe, high-quality, consistent primary human hepatocytes at scale to meet a significant demand, which could allow the following clinical applications:

Cell therapy could be used to add liver cells to a diseased or damaged liver to support it in regeneration and repair.
Bioartificial liver devices could support individuals with liver failure while waiting for organ transplantation or allow a damaged or diseased liver to regenerate and heal.
Hepatocyte transplantation could allow healthy liver cells to repopulate a damaged or diseased liver, eliminating the need for additional treatment in the future.
Genetic engineering and personalized medicine could provide opportunities to correct the genetic alterations at a cellular level in individuals with various liver diseases and utilize those cells to address the disease for better health over time.
Cell lines with unique capabilities could support the advancement of additional research into other health problems and diseases, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.

Partner with Us

Cytotheryx is proud to have strong partners, including Mayo Clinic, Precigen Exemplar, and Children’s Minnesota, among others. With their guidance and ongoing support, we can better address the need for primary human hepatocytes in various applications, from the research and clinical applications above to new applications that have yet to be considered. Regardless of the application, there is a great unmet need for liver cells that our partners are helping us fulfill. For more information on partnership, contact us today.