[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] #Curiosis Inc., a company specializing in lab automation and live-cell imaging, announced on the 12th that it is expanding its business scope into the field of organoid (PDO)-based drug evaluation. Organoids are miniature organ models created by culturing stem cells or tissue cells in three dimensions.

Curiosis Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gradiant, a company specializing in organoids, to develop related technologies and services for its organoid-based drug evaluation business.

Under this agreement, Curiosis Inc.’s 3D high-throughput screening (HTS) live-cell imaging system, “Celloger®-ORD,” will be integrated into Gradiant BioConvergence’s patient-derived PDO-based drug evaluation platform.

The two companies plan to advance technology for real-time observation and analysis of 3D images generated during organoid culture and drug response processes. Curiosis Inc. aims to expand the application scope of its live-cell imaging system in the organoid field, while Gradiant seeks to strengthen the analytical capabilities of its PDO-based drug evaluation services.

Another key aspect of this collaboration is the integration of Gradiant BioConvergence’s database of over 1,000 PDO data points with Curiosis Inc.’s imaging technology. The two companies plan to monitor the growth process and drug responses of organoids through 3D imaging and analyze the relevant data to enhance the efficiency and reliability of drug evaluation.

Organoids are three-dimensional biological models that mimic the structure and function of actual organs using stem cells or patient tissue. As these models gain attention for their potential to complement or replace animal testing in the new drug development process, the market for organoid-based services that evaluate drug efficacy and toxicity is also expanding.

Yoon Ho-young, CEO of Curiosis Inc., stated, “We have partnered with Gradiant amid the growth of organoid-based new drug development services,” adding, “We will continue to improve the quality of our organoid evaluation services through customized solutions that combine live-cell imaging equipment with AI technology.”

Meanwhile, Curiosis Inc. is expanding its business in the fields of bio-research and new drug development based on lab automation and live-cell imaging technologies. Recently, in line with the government’s policies to foster synthetic biology and localize bio-components, materials, and equipment, the company has also been participating in infrastructure projects related to biofoundries.