In this podcast, co-founder and CTO of Emulate, Inc, discusses why now is the time for researchers to accelerate their transition from animal models to human relevant-science with Organ-on-chip technology. There is no doubt that animal models have contributed to major advances in medicine, however, a growing body of evidence suggests that animal models are seriously lacking in both sensitivity and specificity when it comes to predicting drug toxicity in humans. In a recent study published to bioRxiv, researchers found the human Liver-Chip to have an 87% sensitivity and 100% specificity when differentiating hepatotoxic from non-hepatotoxic small molecules. Importantly, all 22 hepatotoxic drugs included in the study had previously been classified as safe due to a lack of toxicity in animal models. Collectively, these compounds resulted in 208 patient fatalities and 10 liver transplants. Had the human Liver-Chip been used during preclinical screening of these compounds, it’s likely that many of these fatalities could have been avoided. By adopting organ-on-a-chip, you can help make the drug development process safer, more efficient and more humane.
FDA reportedly shelves its Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program, Eli Lilly breaks ground on a $3.5 billion Pennsylvania manufacturing site for next-generation obesity treatments, and Parexel’s Stacy Hurt on how small protocol decisions can become enrollment and retention barriers.
Every protocol decision affects patients, and only those with lived disease experience can identify true burden — from invasive biopsies to daily trial demands.
Moderna lays out an oncology-driven growth plan at its 2026 Analyst Day, Pfizer and Blackstone sign a co-funding deal worth up to $1.5 billion for berobenatide, and Parexel’s Stacy Hurt on how patients’ use of AI is reshaping sponsor communication.
Pfizer and Blackstone Life Sciences sign a co-funding deal in which Blackstone is set to provide up to $1.5 billion through 2028 to advance berobenatide.
