Closing the translational gap in neurodegenerative disease research

The path to developing effective therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and ALS is fraught with challenges. Despite decades of intensive research, the clinical trial failure rate remains staggeringly high. A primary contributor to this attrition is the translational gap between traditional preclinical models and human clinical outcomes.

Creative Biolabs has developed an integrated human CNS modeling solution. This approach is designed to provide a more predictive, human-centric approach to accelerate the discovery of novel neurotherapeutics.

The bottleneck in preclinical modeling

For years, researchers have relied on a limited toolkit for preclinical NDD modeling. While these methods have been foundational, their inherent limitations are becoming increasingly apparent as we delve deeper into the complexities of human neurobiology.

• Animal models: For instance, the complex interplay of the human immune system in neuroinflammation—a critical factor in diseases like Alzheimer's—is not accurately mirrored in mice. This discrepancy frequently leads to compounds showing efficacy in animals but failing to deliver results in human patients.
• Immortalized cell lines: They are fundamentally transformed, cancerous cells that have undergone significant genetic drift. They lack the nuanced physiology of primary neurons and exist in isolation from the critical supporting cells that form the intricate CNS microenvironment. Consequently, data generated from these monocultures often lack the physiological relevance required for confident decision-making.
• Emerging models: While induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising avenue for patient-specific modeling, they present their own challenges, including protocol variability, incomplete maturation, and significant time and cost investments, which can limit their utility in large-scale screening campaigns.

A physiologically relevant solution: Integrated human CNS modeling

Creative Biolabs has developed an integrated platform built upon three core pillars: high-quality biospecimens, primary CNS cell-based assays, and comprehensive neurodegenerative disease modeling. This approach is designed to provide researchers with a more faithful representation of human CNS biology and pathology in vitro.

• Biospecimens are extremely valuable research tools in the field of neuroscience.

Creative Biolabs’ inventory of biospecimens includes a rich variety of species, diverse samples, and a wide range of neurological disease models to provide you with reliable and comprehensive readouts for your neurological disease research. Creative Biolabs also provides customized or sourced biospecimens based on clients' specific requirements.

• Primary cell culture models harvest and maintain cells from living organisms.

Using highly relevant neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, Creative Biolabs performs a variety of assays to investigate core neural functions. These include assessments of neurotoxicity, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, myelination, and glial cell activity, providing key insights into the fundamental processes of the central nervous system.

• Neurodegenerative disease modeling unlocks disease insights and therapeutic potential.

Creative Biolabs’ specialized in vitro models for neurodegenerative conditions serve as a robust platform for investigating disease mechanisms, facilitating drug discovery, and developing next-generation therapeutic strategies. Specific modeling for a range of conditions, including AD, PD, ALS, Huntington's disease (HD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) utilizes a variety of cell sources to create the most relevant model for your research needs.

Data-driven insights from human-centric models

The value of any preclinical model lies in its ability to generate robust, predictive data. The evidence of Creative Biolabs’ platform's efficacy is demonstrated through its ability to consistently deliver high-fidelity data across a range of critical biological domains.

• High-resolution quantification of neuroinflammatory dynamics
• Functional assessment of synaptic integrity and network activity
• Modeling core pathological hallmarks with molecular precision
• Deep mechanistic insights through bioenergetic and genetic analysis

De-risking drug development and accelerating discovery

The future of neurodegenerative disease research depends on the ability to generate more predictive preclinical data. By moving beyond the limitations of traditional models, Creative Biolabs’ integrated platform provides a robust, human-relevant framework for discovery.

Adopting this approach enables researchers and pharmaceutical companies to:

• Increase the predictive validity of preclinical efficacy and toxicology studies.
• Gain deeper mechanistic insights into human-specific disease pathways.
• Make more informed, data-driven decisions on which candidates to advance.
• Ultimately, de-risk clinical development and accelerate the journey from the laboratory to the clinic