Previously known as Virtual Arrays and now reported as Out of Business, VitraBioscience was working on a proprietary cell assay platform enabling them to reduce the number of primary cells required to generate data. The CellCard platform contains carriers made of biocompatible materials with encoded microparticles that allow multiple cells to be tested in a single assay well. The firm has been able to miniaturize the assays, using primary cells, from 10,000 cells for an assay to about 100 cells. This allows for early predictive toxicity screens like apoptosis and in vitro patient stratification. The Companyâs strategic objective was indicated as creating breakthrough solutions that enable users to acquire more informative data in less time, allowing for better decision-making. By applying modern imaging technology with proprietary consumables and software, Vitra Bioscience intends to develop and commercialize products that turn serial steps into parallel ones providing users with a complete tool set for their individual research needs.The company is proposing that this is the right way to screen drugs, using primary cells in the disease model, i.e., adipocytes for diabetes, osteoblasts for bone disease, etc. "We are proposing that everything should be done this way. Even target validation should be done within the disease model. The technology has been validated for GPCR, kinases, nuclear receptors, and phenotypesproliferation, apoptosis and cytotoxicity. Besides drug screening, the assays can also be used to prioritize drug leads and for in vitro toxicology. The additional primary cells the company is interested in using for these assays, include osteoblasts and HUVec cells - endothelial cells involved in vascular processes, a valuable model for angiogenesis research. Vitra's CellCard System provides insight into the effects of lead compounds upon multiple targets or tissue types by enabling simultaneous analysis of selectivity and activity in a single well. Single well profiling of compounds allows early assessment of potency, selectivity and mechanism of action of lead compounds. Vitra Bioscience's proprietary technology includes advances in cell biology, miniaturization, material science, and state-of-the-art imaging software. Using the proprietary CellCard System, scientists can evaluate potential new drug candidates rapidly and thoroughly, obtaining decision critical information much earlier in the discovery process
