Promega Corp. and Baltimore, Md.-based Celsis In Vitro Technologies (Celsis IVT) will take the trial and guess work out of ADME/Tox testing in primary hepatocytes. Promega will co-market their bioluminescent ADME-Tox assays with Celsis' extensive line of high quality cryopreserved plateable hepatocytes. Under the agreement, Celsis will pre-qualify lots of cryoplateable hepatocytes for use with specific P450-Glo CYP Assays to study cytochrome P450 gene induction and inhibition. In addition, Celsis will also validate cryopreserved lots of hepatocytes for use with Promega GSH-Glo Glutathione Assay for investigating mechanisms of hepatotoxicity.

"Combining validated biologic components with Promega's ultra-sensitive and dynamic luminescence assay detection technology is a significant benefit to scientists," said Philip M. Vorwald, vice president and general manager of Celsis IVT. "Our research has confirmed the higher predictive value and accuracy of the combined assay for identifying adverse side-effects in new chemical entities," he said. "Plus, it's significantly faster than traditional studies."

Determining whether a particular lot of hepatocytes will work for a given application is time-consuming and costly…