Olympus and PhenoVista Collaborate to Deliver an Innovative 3D Cell-Based Assay Service for Drug DiscoveryOlympus NoviSight 3D cell analysis software helps PhenoVista bioscience deliver in-depth results

June 1, 2020

Olympus, a leader in delivering optical and software solutions for the life sciences, and PhenoVista, a leading provider of custom imaging-based phenotypic assay services, are collaborating to deliver 3D cell-based assay services for drug discovery.

The use of 3D cell models in drug discovery has become an essential validation step as they are recognized for their greater physiological relevance and expected better predictive efficacy of drug candidates. However, there are barriers to adopting 3D models in-house. PhenoVista and Olympus are collaborating to deliver an easy path to provide the results of 3D cell-based assays through the combined expertise of PhenoVista and Olympus in assay development in 3D quantitative analysis.

PhenoVista is adopting Olympus NoviSight™* software to enhance their 3D cell-based assay analysis capabilities. NoviSight software is designed to analyze multiple 3D datasets in a multiwell plates. As opposed to using a single 2D image, NoviSight software and its True 3D technology can measure drug efficacy for both individual cells in spheroids and entire spheroids in three dimensions. Its powerful algorithms can detect individual spheroids, cells and the other cell compartments at high accuracy and analyze various cell behaviors by measuring a range of parameters.

Speed to result is critical to the drug discovery process, and NoviSight software’s analysis capabilities and interactive data observation help improve the speed and efficiency of the 3D cell-based assay workflow. Results are displayed along with the recognition and analysis information for a comprehensive view of the data. Interactive operation from data to image simplifies otherwise complicated 3D analysis. Through the collaboration, Olympus will support the needs of PhenoVista and its customers and will work to enhance the capabilities of NoviSight software.

“Given the fast pace of drug discovery, specialization and collaborations are very important,” said Junichi Kitagawa, Vice President of Life Science Business Strategy at Olympus. “PhenoVista has proven itself to have the expertise and results to generate trust in the drug discovery industry as a contract research organization. Olympus’ expertise in 3D cell imaging and analysis will add value to drug discovery scientists that need to extend their validation to more physiologically relevant 3D models.”

Ray Price, Vice President of Business Development at PhenoVista Biosciences commented, “We chose to work with Olympus because they’re a leader in providing exceptional imaging platforms for bioscience researchers. While we at PhenoVista already offer a broad set of 2D and 3D cell-based assay and fluorescence microscopy services, partnering with Olympus to offer access to NoviSight software’s deep analysis capabilities dramatically expands our portfolio in the 3D image analysis space.”

* NoviSight software is currently only sold in the United States.

About PhenoVista Biosciences, LLC.

PhenoVista Biosciences is the leading provider of custom imaging-based phenotypic assay services. With a collaborative and scientifically driven project design and management approach, PhenoVista has a proven track record of generating relevant and translatable high-content-imaging data from physiologically relevant cell models, including 3D structures. PhenoVista leverages the ability of their industry-trained scientists to combine world-class understanding of diverse biological systems with complex physiology, such as ex vivo PDX models and minibrain organoids, with cutting-edge quantitative imaging to deliver clear, actionable output data. For more information, please visit www.PhenoVista.com.

About Life Sciences

Olympus has manufactured microscopes since the company’s founding in 1919. Today, our Life Sciences business is dedicated to meeting and exceeding the evolving needs and expectations of life science professionals through a comprehensive range of clinical research, educational and research microscopes and microscope systems. For more information, visit www.olympus-lifescience.com.

For details and inquiries about 3D cell analysis consignment services, please refer to the following. https://www.olympus-lifescience.com/landing/3d-cell-based-assay/