Emulate, a biotechnology company specializing in Organ-on-a-Chip technology, has announced the release of a new instrument aimed at reshaping preclinical drug testing. The new device, called the AVA™ Emulation System, is designed to automate and scale the use of miniaturized human tissue models in research, potentially offering an alternative to traditional animal testing methods.
The AVA system combines tissue culture, environmental control, and imaging in a single benchtop unit. According to Emulate, it can handle up to 96 independent Organ-Chip samples simultaneously, significantly increasing the throughput of lab experiments using human-relevant models.
The release comes amid a shift in regulatory attitudes toward animal testing. The U.S. FDA has signaled a move away from animal studies, encouraging the adoption of alternative models that better mimic human biology. Emulate’s Liver-Chip S1, a human liver model on a chip, is the only Organ-Chip currently recognized under the FDA’s ISTAND program, which supports the use of novel drug development tools.
Scientific experts at Emulate argue that this level of automation and scale could support faster and more accurate identification of drug candidates and toxicities. In particular, they suggest the system can help researchers make earlier, more informed decisions in the drug development process.