A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Hyderabad-based Transcell Oncologics and ViNS Bioproducts to adopt NeuroSAFE, recently launched by Transcell, to undertake potency testing of anti-venoms and this will be a revolutionary next generation cruelty free operation.

Due to the complex biological nature of venoms, the potency of both venoms and anti-venoms is traditionally tested in small animals, as recommended by the WHO. Sacrificing small animals for venom and anti-venom potency measurements batch-wise is one of the most deliberated topics of cruelty caused, encouraging the manufacturers to apply the ‘3Rs’—replacement, reduction, and refinement in animal use. Ethical guidelines limit the testing, resulting in inconclusive test results which often do not meet the industry requirements.

NeuroSAFE is a cruelty free workstation solution that combines human induced pluripotent stem cell technology and modern robotic process automation as a dependable resolution to the anti-venom Industry to go cruelty free in their practice.

“NeuroSAFE is built on configured in vitro human cellular platform that can hold scale, throughput by being phenotypically responsive and genotypically reactive. We envisage NeuroSAFE to be a disruptive testing strategy delivering accurate digital scores like ED50 and LD50 on human specific Neurotoxicity, Neurovirulence like read out patterns in the most humane method – A much needed in reducing cruelty to animals” said Dr Subhadra Dravida, Founder and CEO, Transcell Oncologics.