Predictive Oncology Partners with Switzerland-Based Tecan Group Ltd. to Expand High-Throughput Drug Screening to Include Human Tumor Spheroids Using Automated Imaging and 3D Analysis
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) announced positive results from a collaborative study with Tecan, at the 2025 SLAS International Conference. The study focused on utilizing patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTS) from POAI's biobank of cryopreserved tumor specimens for drug screening.
The research demonstrated successful transition from 2D cell culture to cryopreservation and then to 3D cell culture, using breast, colon, and ovary samples with known drug response data. The collaboration leverages Tecan's SparkCyto instrument and 3DAI software for automated analysis of tumor spheroids.
This advancement addresses a key challenge in cancer research: the accessibility and scalability of primary tumor cells. The high-throughput screening market is projected to reach $69.5 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 12.18%, according to SNS Insider research.
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) ha annunciato risultati positivi da uno studio collaborativo con Tecan, durante la SLAS International Conference del 2025. Lo studio si è concentrato sull'utilizzo di sferoidi tumorali derivati dai pazienti (PDTS) dal biobanco di POAI di campioni tumorali crioconservati per il screening dei farmaci.
La ricerca ha dimostrato una transizione di successo dalla coltura cellulare 2D alla crioconservazione e poi alla coltura cellulare 3D, utilizzando campioni di tessuti mammari, colonscopici e ovarici con dati di risposta ai farmaci noti. La collaborazione sfrutta lo strumento SparkCyto di Tecan e il software 3DAI per l'analisi automatizzata degli sferoidi tumorali.
Questo progresso affronta una sfida chiave nella ricerca sul cancro: l'accessibilità e la scalabilità delle cellule tumorali primarie. Si prevede che il mercato dello screening ad alta capacità raggiunga 69,5 miliardi di dollari entro il 2032, con un tasso di crescita annuo composto (CAGR) del 12,18%, secondo la ricerca di SNS Insider.
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) anunció resultados positivos de un estudio colaborativo con Tecan, en la Conferencia Internacional SLAS de 2025. El estudio se centró en utilizar esferoides tumorales derivados de pacientes (PDTS) del biobanco de POAI de muestras tumorales criopreservadas para la detección de fármacos.
La investigación demostró una transición exitosa de cultivo celular 2D a criopreservación y luego a cultivo celular 3D, utilizando muestras de tejido mamario, colorrectal y ovárico con datos de respuesta a medicamentos conocidos. La colaboración aprovecha el instrumento SparkCyto de Tecan y el software 3DAI para un análisis automatizado de esferoides tumorales.
Este avance aborda un desafío clave en la investigación del cáncer: la accesibilidad y escalabilidad de las células tumorales primarias. Se prevé que el mercado de cribado de alto rendimiento alcance 69.5 mil millones de dólares para 2032, con una tasa de crecimiento anual compuesta (CAGR) del 12.18%, según la investigación de SNS Insider.
예측 종양학 (NASDAQ: POAI)이 2025 SLAS 국제 회의에서 Tecan과의 협력 연구에서 긍정적인 결과를 발표했습니다. 이 연구는 POAI의 동결 보존된 종양 샘플의 생물 은행에서 환자 유래 종양 스페로이드 (PDTS)를 이용하여 약물 스크리닝을 활용하는 데 중점을 두었습니다.
연구는 알려진 약물 반응 데이터를 가진 유방, 대장 및 난소 샘플을 사용하여 2D 세포 배양에서 동결 보존, 그리고 3D 세포 배양으로 성공적으로 전환됨을 보여주었습니다. 이 협력은 Tecan의 SparkCyto 장비와 3DAI 소프트웨어를 활용하여 종양 스페로이드의 자동 분석을 수행합니다.
이러한 발전은 암 연구의 주요 과제인 원발 종양 세포의 접근성과 확장성을 해결합니다. 고속 스크리닝 시장은 2032년까지 695억 달러에 이를 것으로 예상되며, 연평균 성장률(CAGR)은 12.18%에 이를 것으로 보입니다. 이는 SNS Insider의 연구에 따른 것입니다.
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) a annoncé des résultats positifs d'une étude collaborative avec Tecan, lors de la Conférence Internationale SLAS de 2025. L'étude s'est concentrée sur l'utilisation de sphéroïdes tumoraux dérivés des patients (PDTS) provenant de la biobanque de POAI d'échantillons tumoraux cryoconservés pour le criblage de médicaments.
La recherche a démontré une transition réussie de la culture cellulaire 2D à la cryoconservations, puis à la culture cellulaire 3D, en utilisant des échantillons de tissus mammaires, coliques et ovariens avec des données de réponse aux médicaments connues. La collaboration exploite l'instrument SparkCyto de Tecan et le logiciel 3DAI pour l'analyse automatisée des sphéroïdes tumoraux.
Ce progrès répond à un défi clé de la recherche sur le cancer : l'accessibilité et la scalabilité des cellules tumorales primaires. Le marché du criblage à haut débit devrait atteindre 69,5 milliards de dollars d'ici 2032, avec un taux de croissance annuel composé (CAGR) de 12,18 %, selon la recherche de SNS Insider.
Predictive Oncology (NASDAQ: POAI) gab positive Ergebnisse aus einer kollaborativen Studie mit Tecan auf der SLAS International Conference 2025 bekannt. Die Studie konzentrierte sich auf die Nutzung von patientenabgeleiteten Tumorsphäroiden (PDTS) aus dem Biobank von POAI mit kryokonservierten Tumormustern für die Arzneimittelprüfung.
Die Forschung demonstrierte den erfolgreichen Übergang von der 2D-Zellkultur zur Kryokonservierung und dann zur 3D-Zellkultur unter Verwendung von Proben aus Brust-, Dickdarm- und Eierstockgewebe mit bekannten Arzneimittelreaktionsdaten. Die Zusammenarbeit nutzt das SparkCyto-Instrument von Tecan und die 3DAI-Software zur automatisierten Analyse der Tumorsphäroiden.
Dieser Fortschritt adressiert eine Schlüsselherausforderung in der Krebsforschung: die Verfügbarkeit und Skalierbarkeit von primären Tumorzellen. Der Markt für Hochdurchsatzscreening wird voraussichtlich bis 2032 69,5 Milliarden Dollar erreichen, mit einer jährlichen Wachstumsrate (CAGR) von 12,18%, laut der Forschung von SNS Insider.
- Successfully demonstrated viable transition from 2D to 3D cell cultures using cryopreserved tumor specimens
- Operating in high-growth market projected to reach $69.5B by 2032 (12.18% CAGR)
- Partnership with established player Tecan enhances technological capabilities
- None.
Insights
This partnership marks a pivotal advancement in drug screening technology that significantly strengthens POAI's market position. The integration of Tecan's SparkCyto instrument and 3DAI software with POAI's extensive biobank creates a powerful platform for drug discovery that addresses key industry challenges.
The technical breakthrough lies in the successful preservation and transition of tumor cells from 2D to 3D cultures. Traditional 2D cell cultures often fail to replicate the complex tumor microenvironment, leading to poor predictability in drug development. The ability to maintain viable dissociated tumor cells (DTCs) through cryopreservation while enabling their growth into 3D spheroids represents a significant competitive advantage in the $69.5 billion high-throughput screening market.
This development has three major commercial implications:
- Enhanced drug discovery efficiency through more physiologically relevant screening models
- Improved predictability of drug responses, potentially reducing late-stage clinical trial failures
- Expanded capabilities in personalized medicine through patient-specific tumor models
The collaboration with Tecan, a respected Swiss laboratory automation company, validates POAI's technology and positions them to capture a larger share of the growing high-throughput screening market. The 12.18% CAGR projection suggests strong industry demand for advanced screening technologies, particularly those enabling 3D cell culture applications.
Study used Predictive Oncology’s vast biobank of cryopreserved live cell tumor specimens for the production and testing of primary patient tumor spheroids
Results presented at the 2025 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS)
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Predictive Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: POAI), a leader in AI-driven drug discovery and biologics, today announced that positive results from an ongoing study in collaboration with Switzerland-based Tecan, Ltd. were recently presented at the 2025 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) International Conference & Exhibition, which was held January 25-29, 2025, in San Diego, CA.
Cancer research increasingly relies on patient-derived tumor models (PDTMs), such as patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTS), to develop personalized therapies as they offer a more physiologically relevant system, preserving the morphology, cellular complexity, and microenvironment of corresponding tissues. A key challenge of utilizing PDTS is the accessibility and scalability of primary tumor cells. The use of cryopreserved dissociated tumor cells (DTCs) which are single cell suspensions dissociated from solid tumors addresses this limitation, and offers a robust method to store and culture viable DTCs for research.
Optimized growth conditions and drug treatment protocols were established for tumor models derived from cryopreserved DTCs of different cancer types. 3D models are closer to in vivo physiological conditions than 2D models, and as expected, differences in response to drug dosing are observed.
“The capability to obtain a tumor specimen and monitor its growth and drug response as it transitions from a 2D cell culture to cryopreservation and then to a 3D cell culture significantly enhances the relevance and availability of our samples for high-throughput drug discovery, personalized medicine, and biomarker discovery,” said Dr. Arlette Uihlein, Senior Vice President of Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery and Medical Director at Predictive Oncology. “The breast, colon and ovary samples used to generate primary patient spheroids were selected from the Predictive Oncology biobank. All samples were chosen based on known drug response data indicating responsiveness to the clinically relevant compounds used in this study.”
The high throughput screening [HTS] market is projected to reach
A major obstacle to the use of patient-derived tumor spheroids in research and drug development is the limited accessibility and scalability of primary tumor cells. This challenge is mitigated by the utilization of cryopreserved dissociated tumor cells (DTCs), which represent a scalable resource for experiments with viable primary tumor material.
“This process requires precise monitoring and characterization, including multiple imaging techniques and viability assessments to evaluate tumor growth and drug response. The studies presented in this poster summarize recent developments in the use of the POAI biobank for optimizing the use of DTCs, by multiplexing label-free artificial intelligence based automated analysis of tumor spheroids over time with real-time drug dose response,” said Eric Lutsch, Application Scientist at Tecan, Austria. “The spheroids were evaluated using the Tecan SparkCyto instrument and 3DAI software capabilities.”
About Tecan
Tecan (www.tecan.com) improves people’s lives and health by empowering customers to scale healthcare innovation globally from life science to the clinic. Tecan is a pioneer and global leader in laboratory automation. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments, components and medical devices that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has more than 3,500 employees, with manufacturing, research and development sites in Europe, North America and Asia, and maintains a sales and service network in over 70 countries. In 2023, Tecan generated sales of CHF 1,074 million (USD 1,194 million; EUR 1,108 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TECN; ISIN CH0012100191).
About Predictive Oncology
Predictive Oncology is on the cutting edge of the rapidly growing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to expedite early drug discovery and enable drug development for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide. The company’s scientifically validated AI platform, PEDAL, is able to predict with
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FAQ
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