Nobel Laureate Inaugurates New Molecular Devices Facility for Manufacturing Patient-Derived Organoids

Molecular Devices, LLC, a leader in high-performance life science solutions, has officially opened its state-of-the-art facility in Cardiff, UK. This multi-million-pound site is designed for the company’s proprietary bioprocess workflow and unique bioreactor technology, enabling the large-scale, quality-controlled production of patient-derived organoids (PDOs). These PDOs are offered as a bespoke service, cryopreserved in an assay-ready format, ready for researchers to thaw, plate, and use.

Molecular Devices stands out as the sole company capable of commercially manufacturing PDOs in single batches sufficient to support screenings of over 20,000 compounds. The new facility expands the company’s capacity to manufacture 300 million PDOs annually, significantly bolstering the availability of these organoids for use in drug discovery and research. This scale is expected to reduce the time and cost associated with bringing new therapies to market, enhancing the application of PDOs in precision medicine and predictive toxicology.

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Mary Duseau, President of Molecular Devices, emphasized the unique capabilities of the new facility, stating that “…given the utility of PDOs for precision medicine and predictive toxicology, their expanded availability for use in drug discovery will reduce the time and cost of bringing new life-saving therapies to the market.”

From Left to Right: Victoria Marsh-Durban, Director, Custom Organoid Services, Molecular Devices – Robert Vries, CEO HUB Organoids – Professor Sir Martin Evans, Nobel Laureate – Mary Duseau, President, Molecular Devices.

The Cardiff facility’s inauguration was marked by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Martin Evans, who unveiled a commemorative plaque. Professor Evans, renowned for his Nobel Prize-winning work in mammalian embryonic stem cells and DNA recombination, has been a significant advocate for the 3D organoid cell culture research initiated at Cardiff University. This research contributed to the establishment of the biotech company Cellesce, which Molecular Devices acquired in 2022.

Professor Evans expressed his satisfaction with the advancements in stem cell research, noting:

“I am very pleased to see the developmental potential of human stem cells being so effectively leveraged in organoids for facilitating pharmaceutical research.”

The strategic development of this facility aligns with broader governmental initiatives. The Welsh Government’s Manufacturing Plan for Wales, announced in 2023, aims to expand the country’s manufacturing sector, which significantly contributes to the national economy. Molecular Devices’ new facility not only supports this plan but also aligns with the UK Government’s national vision for engineering biology.

Dr. Robert Vries, CEO of HUB Organoids, highlighted the collaborative efforts in advancing organoid technology:

“Opening this state-of-the-art facility marks a pivotal moment in the field, as Molecular Devices can now grow organoids at scale to meet the growing demands of researchers worldwide. It not only enables them to accelerate progress in understanding human biology and disease mechanisms but also sets their customers up for breakthroughs in drug discovery and personalized medicine.”

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