HealthTech Videos

Where Organ on Chips Will Add the Most Value in 3–5 Years

The discussion centers on how contract research organizations (CROs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) can accelerate the adoption of organ‑on‑chip technologies over the next three to five years. Participants stress that scaling commercial systems and creating a unified service model are critical for moving beyond niche applications. Key insights include startups wrestling with budget allocations between traditional animal studies, new approach methodologies (NAMs), and costly organ‑chip platforms. A fragmented CRO landscape—featuring specialists like Emulate, CM Bio, and Arkari—lacks a single provider that can meet the full spectrum of NAM needs, prompting calls for consolidation and better integration of computational systems biology with microphysiological models. Industry voices cite venture‑capital pressure and private‑equity interest in building a dedicated NAM CRO, while established players such as Charles River and Jackson Laboratory are already signaling moves toward these models. A recurring theme is the scarcity of data sharing among CROs and regulators, limiting the FDA’s visibility into emerging pre‑clinical tools. If a consolidated, data‑rich CRO emerges, it could become the go‑to partner for pharma, reduce reliance on animal testing, and shorten drug‑development timelines, delivering measurable value to investors and patients alike.