VoxCell, a Canadian biotechnology company developing vascularized 3D tissue models, has appointed Graham Craig as chief commercial officer amid rising demand for predictive, human-relevant non-clinical testing approaches. The hire reflects growing commercial opportunities as regulators increasingly support New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for drug and biological product development.

VoxCell’s vascularized tissue models replicate key features of the human vascular microenvironment, enabling evaluation of drug penetration, extravasation, efficacy, and vascular toxicity in a single physiologically relevant system. The company said its platform addresses limitations of traditional animal models, supports ethical research practices, and aligns with evolving regulatory expectations.

Craig joins from AbCellera, where he served as director of corporate development, and brings more than 18 years of experience in commercialization and strategic partnerships across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He will lead VoxCell’s global business development, strategic partnerships, and go-to-market strategy as adoption of NAMs accelerates.

Karolina Valente, founder, CEO and CSO at VoxCell, said: “Craig is a commercial leader with deep experience translating complex life-science platforms into customer value and scalable revenue. As regulators move to modernize nonclinical testing expectations and the industry increases investment in NAMs, VoxCell is well-positioned to help drug developers generate more human-relevant data earlier. Craig’s leadership will strengthen our ability to serve pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and research institutions as they adapt to this transition.”

Craig added: “VoxCell is addressing a clear and growing market need for the provision of preclinical translation through models that more closely reflect human biology. With increasing regulatory and industry alignment on NAMs, our vascularized tissue models offer a compelling path to quickly generate decision-enabling data, helping teams prioritize the right programs earlier and reduce late-stage failure risk. It’s an exciting time to join the company as we focus on expanding access to the platform through partnerships and customer programs globally.”

Recent regulatory developments have reinforced the relevance of NAMs. The FDA has outlined a stepwise approach to reduce reliance on animal testing in preclinical studies, and reports indicate the first Investigational New Drug application has been cleared using data from a human vascularized organoid-based model. These trends signal growing confidence in the adoption of human-relevant, non-animal models in drug development.

VoxCell said its platform is designed to provide early, decision-enabling data to accelerate drug discovery and reduce late-stage attrition, helping pharmaceutical companies and research institutions generate more predictive preclinical insights while aligning with ethical and regulatory trends.