Bruker Corporation has made a majority investment in MIMETAS, a developer of organ-on-a-chip platforms and advanced human tissue and disease models used in drug discovery and development. MIMETAS will continue operating under its existing brand and management team.
The investment expands Bruker’s post-genomic research portfolio into Microphysiological Systems, or MPS, which are also referred to as New Approach Methodologies, or NAMs.
These technologies are designed to model aspects of human physiology more directly, giving pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers additional tools for studying disease mechanisms and evaluating potential therapies.
MIMETAS develops scalable organ-on-a-chip technology and human tissue models that allow researchers to analyze diseases and compound responses in perfused biological systems.
Its flagship OrganoPlate platform combines a standard microtiter plate format with membrane-free microfluidic tissue cultures.
The system is designed to support imaging, automated handling and higher-throughput research workflows while enabling scientists to work with human-relevant tissue models.
Bruker plans to combine MIMETAS’ technology with its existing capabilities in proteomics, metabolomics, nuclear magnetic resonance, preclinical imaging and spatial biology.
The companies intend to develop integrated products and services connecting human tissue models with molecular, cellular and spatial characterization technologies.
MIMETAS’ portfolio also includes OrganoReady tissue and organoid products, supporting instruments and contract research services.
The combination is intended to provide researchers with more comprehensive workflows spanning disease research, compound evaluation, toxicity testing and drug development.
MIMETAS said its technologies are already being incorporated into pharmaceutical research workflows. One global pharmaceutical company has integrated the OrganoReady Colon Organoid Model and OrganoTEER system into its toxicity testing process.
Bruker believes humanized microphysiological systems could become increasingly important in drug discovery and preclinical development as researchers seek models that more closely replicate human biology.
The technologies could also support the industry’s ongoing shift toward alternatives to traditional animal testing.
MIMETAS works with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across target validation, disease understanding, efficacy assessment and safety testing.
By pairing MIMETAS’ human tissue models with Bruker’s analytical technologies, the companies aim to generate richer biological data that can support drug development decisions and potentially improve translation from preclinical research to human studies.
Bruker also sees potential applications for the combined technologies in generating biological data for AI foundation models.
MIMETAS operates across North America, Europe and Asia and provides both research products and contract research services.
KEY QUOTES:
“Human physiology-relevant tissue and disease models are becoming increasingly important for understanding disease biology and evaluating therapeutic candidates. The unique MIMETAS organ-on-a-chip platforms complement Bruker’s capabilities in multiomics, spatial biology and preclinical imaging.”
“We believe that humanized Microphysiological Systems, or NAMs, have a bright future, and will be increasingly adopted in drug discovery, development and preclinical testing.”
Frank H. Laukien, President and CEO of Bruker Corporation
“Joining Bruker creates opportunities to scale our platforms and make advanced human tissue models available to more researchers worldwide.”
“By combining our OrganoPlate and OrganoReady solutions with Bruker’s molecular and cellular characterization technologies, we aim to offer more integrated workflows for disease research, compound evaluation and drug development.”
Paul Vulto and Jos Joore, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of MIMETAS
