Human-Tissue Models Aid Drug Discovery for Patients
New lab testing models for liver and intestinal diseases could help drug developers better predict treatment effectiveness.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Diseases — General
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San Diego-based VivoSim Labs has expanded its NAMkind platform to provide efficacy testing for liver and intestinal disease treatments using patient-derived human cells. This technology allows developers to test candidate drugs in human tissue before advancing them to human clinical trials.
Why it matters
Clinical trial failures often stem from a lack of drug efficacy, a hurdle that testing in human-relevant models aims to clear early in the development cycle. By incorporating patient cells, researchers hope to better predict how treatments will perform before they ever reach a person.
Analysis indicates that a lack of efficacy is the leading cause of clinical trial failure, with 28,000 trials historically halted before reaching their endpoints. The efficacy of these specific models in predicting patient outcomes, however, is still under long-term evaluation.
The players
VivoSim Labs
A San Diego-based biotechnology company specializing in human disease model platforms and toxicology services.
The details
The liver model replicates complex tissue environments by combining healthy liver cells with stellate, Kupffer, and endothelial cells from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Compounds are dosed over 14 or 21 days to monitor fibrosis and liver function. Simultaneously, the intestinal platform utilizes organoids derived from patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease to measure inflammation, barrier integrity, and fibrosis.
Timeline
May 2025: VivoSim Labs received a Poster of Distinction award at Digestive Disease Week.
October 21, 2026: The company announced the expansion of its disease model testing services.
Health Landscape
This development aligns with the industry-wide move toward New Alternative Methods as emphasized in FDA guidance. It signals a shift from traditional animal models toward human-centric tissue platforms to better address the high rate of failure in drug development.
While this laboratory-level advancement does not impact your daily health choices today, it aims to increase the quality and safety of future treatments for conditions like Crohn's disease and MASH. Any questions about current treatment options or clinical trials for these conditions are best discussed with your gastroenterologist or specialist.
The takeaway
Lack of efficacy is the primary reason clinical trials fail, making more accurate tissue-based testing a critical step for modern medicine. Patients managing chronic liver or intestinal conditions should discuss the availability of relevant clinical trial opportunities with their care team.
Further reading
Learn more about new diagnostic and therapeutic advancements in our Diseases — General section.
Live Poll
Do you believe patient-derived tissue models will make new drugs safer and more effective?
