WormGazer platform automates the study of thousands of C elegans nematodes in preclinical studies of age-targeting interventions.
UK-based contract research organization Magnitude Biosciences, has secured more than £700,000 in combined investment and grant funding to advance its high-throughput drug discovery platform for in vivo testing using the transparent nematode (worm) model C elegans. The aptly named WormGazer platform continuously captures multi-endpoint data, offering researchers insights into a compound’s effects on aging, neurodegeneration, health and toxicity, while maintaining the organisms in a natural, free-moving environment.
The early-stage development of many age-targeting compounds often involves studies of their effects on the lifespan of C elegans, and the new funding will support the expansion of the Magnitude’s proprietary biophotonics system that provides automated, non-invasive analysis of the nematode species. Developed by Durham University professors David Weinkove and Chris Saunter, WormGazer offers an alternative to traditional manual assays and immobilization-based techniques.
The platform offers a standardized, scalable alternative that aligns more closely with the physiological conditions of the test organism, enabling more accurate and efficient preclinical studies. The integration of robotics, liquid culture systems and advanced machine learning will enhance this system further, forming a high-throughput screening platform capable of evaluating thousands of compounds weekly.
Magnitude believes its platform can help pharmaceutical, nutrition and health supplement companies accelerate compound identification, reduce preclinical timelines and costs, and decrease reliance on mammalian testing models. Pilot collaborations with pharmaceutical firms are already underway, and the funding will allow Magnitude to further scale its operations and expand its scientific and technical team.
“This funding is more than a milestone – it’s a catalyst for global change in how we approach aging and age-related disease,” Magnitude CEO Dr Fozia Saleem told us. “By enabling rapid, scalable in vivo screening, our platform unlocks new possibilities for discovering longevity therapeutics that are both effective and safe. We’re empowering scientists to move faster, with better data, and ultimately bringing the promise of healthier, longer lives to people around the world.”
The investment was led by Maven Capital Partners with support from Northstar Ventures and matched with a grant from Innovate UK.
“Magnitude Biosciences is building the kind of scalable, high-impact technology we look for at Maven, their HTS platform addresses a real need in early drug discovery,” said Maven’s Michael Dickens.
As part of the expansion, Magnitude says it will create new high-skilled roles in robotics, software engineering and biological sciences at its facility in the North East Technology Park (NETPark) in County Durham as it aims to help accelerate the global development of longevity-focused therapeutics.
“This funding accelerates our mission to revolutionize drug discovery bringing life-changing therapies to patients faster, cutting costs and timelines, and transforming how we tackle the world’s toughest-to-treat diseases while reducing dependence on traditional animal models,” added Saleem.
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Photograph courtesy of Magnitude Biosciences.
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