CHIBA, Japan–Transparent Inc. and Molecular Response LLC, with the world’s largest primary tumor bank that contains more than 144,000 primary tumor specimens, accelerate collaborative research efforts to develop the next generation of 3 dimensional cell-culture systems for cancer research.

Improved preclinical models are required to advance our understanding of the molecular aberrations that underpin cancer and are critical for developing and deploying targeted therapies to improve patients’ lives. Patient-derived primary tumor cell models grown in 3D culture conditions coupled with molecular characterization provides a stronger correlation to clinical outcomes than conventional preclinical anticancer drug testing.

Transparent Inc. and Molecular Response LLC collaborate in research and development of the next generation of the Cell-able cell culture system that more closely resembles in vivo like conditions. This system could enable personalized cancer treatments as well as developments of safer and/or more efficient anti-cancer drugs.

“We are excited to be working with Molecular Response, a company that is a leader in advancing targeted therapeutics through intelligently designed, clinically validated companion diagnostics.” said Transparent CEO Rocky Kato. “Transparent and Molecular Response entered into a collaborative research project in March 2011 and we have obtained promising experimental results. We are now ready to invest more resources to develop the new system and plan to present our findings at the AACR Annual Meeting to be held in Chicago from March 31 to April 4, 2012”

About Transparent Inc.

Transparent develops the 3 dimensional culture system “Cell-able”. Over 50 pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions are now using this technology in their metabolism and/or toxicology efforts as well as in the development of new culture systems for cancer cells and stem cells.

About Molecular Response LLC

Molecular Response is a leader in advancing targeted therapeutics through intelligently designed, clinically validated companion diagnostics. Our goal is to reduce risk and cost of therapeutic drug development for our partners by translating clinically relevant molecular response marker data into high-value knowledge while fully integrated into existing pharmaceutical development processes and programs; Our results reduce risk and cost of drug development and allow for the most informed decisions with best chance of success to advance therapeutic programs.