CN Bio has introduced two new animal-derived liver-on-a-chip models to complement its existing human DILI assay, enabling side-by-side species comparisons that aim to improve in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) in preclinical safety testing.

Now integrated into the company’s Contract Research Services (CRS), the expanded platform allows researchers to evaluate potential hepatotoxicity across human, rat, and dog models using the same microphysiological system (MPS) format. The goal is to identify interspecies differences earlier in development—supporting more informed in vivo study design, reducing unnecessary animal use, and mitigating the risk of clinical failure.

Despite advances in human-based in vitro assays, the disconnect between in vitro and in vivo results remains a critical bottleneck. Misjudging safety profiles – either by progressing toxic compounds or discarding viable ones – continues to burden pipelines with costly setbacks. The company believes these new models offer a more refined IVIVE framework by integrating species-specific liver responses into a unified workflow.

The assay supports both single and repeated dosing over a 14-day window, capturing DILI-relevant biomarkers and mechanistic data. According to CN Bio, this longitudinal approach provides early warning signals and a more nuanced understanding of latent toxicities that may not emerge in short-term screens.

Dr Emily Richardson, lead scientist for safety and toxicology, said: “Species differences in liver physiology have long complicated safety assessments. Our aim with this expansion is to provide researchers with data that mirrors the complexity of human biology more closely – while also giving context to existing animal data. It’s a step toward making IVIVE less of a black box.”

This move aligns with growing industry pressure to reduce reliance on animal models while improving translatability—an increasingly important factor as regulators and developers look for alternatives that combine ethical considerations with better predictive power.

Why IVIVE still breaks down

• Species-specific liver responses: Animal livers process drugs differently—some effects never show up in human trials and vice versa.

• Dose-response mismatches: Standard in vitro systems often miss delayed or cumulative toxicity.

• Metabolism blind spots: Many platforms fail to replicate the full metabolic competency of the human liver.

• Regulatory uncertainty: While organ-on-a-chip models show promise, few are currently standardised or formally accepted as standalone safety predictors.

How MPS helps:
Cross-species MPS models offer a controlled, comparative approach—helping researchers interpret results in a translational context and reducing reliance on poorly predictive animal data.