bit.bio expands human heart cell portfolio through myriamed partnership
pharmafile | September 30, 2026 | News story | | Biotechnology, bit.bio, drug discovery, myriamed, safety testing
bit.bio has partnered with German biotechnology company myriamed to offer cryopreserved human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes for drug discovery and safety testing.
The partnership gives researchers access to ventricular and atrial cardiomyocytes, alongside a dilated cardiomyopathy disease model and reporter cardiac cells for phenotypic screening. The cells will also be available through bit.bio’s CRISPR screening services.
The cells are supplied cryopreserved and ready to plate, avoiding the need for researchers to undertake in-house differentiation. bit.bio said the cells show spontaneous, synchronous beating within seven days of thawing and can be incorporated into 2D and 3D models, including engineered heart tissue.
myriamed’s disease models are designed to support research into cardiomyopathies and inherited arrhythmic conditions. Using cells from the same donor background also allows comparative studies of atrial and ventricular cells and investigation of disease phenotypes.
The partnership expands bit.bio’s human cell portfolio across three organ systems commonly used in drug safety and toxicity research: heart, liver and central nervous system (CNS). Its portfolio already includes neural cells and, more recently, iPSC-derived hepatocytes.
Dr Emma Pepperell, CEO of bit.bio, said the partnership would give researchers access to cardiac cells for applications ranging from screening to 3D models and safety testing.
Prof Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, founder of myriamed, said the partnership combined the companies’ expertise in human cell and tissue models and would make the company’s cardiac models available to a wider drug discovery market.
Related Content
Could targeting the molecular causes of infertility finally transform IVF success rates?
By Dr Jordan Abdi Over the past two decades, demand for IVF has risen sharply …
Drug discovery and development partnership announced between Apollo Therapeutics and Oxford University
Portfolio therapeutics company Apollo Therapeutics has announced earlier this week that it will provide capital …
Certara to acquire Chemaxon for drug discovery portfolio
Certara and Chemaxon have announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Certara …
