The ERBC (European Research Biology Center) Group is expanding its non-clinical expertise in derisking drug development with the acquisition of Voxcan

- This strategic addition expands ERBC Group's non-clinical derisking capabilities to include efficacy, biodistribution, mechanistic and proof of concept studies based on in vitro and in vivo models combined with high-resolution imaging in a wide range of small animal species.

- Voxcan’s core businesses have been in oncology, viral and bacterial infectious diseases, osteo-articular inflammatory diseases and medical devices for 16 years.

- This acquisition is in line with ERBC's 3R policy and commitment to reduce the number of animals (up to 80%) used in non-clinical studies and to improve animal welfare.

Baugy, France, July 24, 2023 – ERBC Group, a leading European non-clinical contract research organization (CRO), is pleased to announce the acquisition of Voxcan, a specialized CRO with 16 years of experience in non-clinical 3D CT (computed tomography) imaging,  3D high resolution imaging (µCT i.e. X-ray micro-computed tomography) and non invasive bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging, ensuring longitudinal monitoring of compound efficacy and biodistribution combined with mechanistic analyses based on technologies such as flow cytometry, Luminex and qPCR. Based in Lyon, France, Voxcan’s premises include BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities and provide a large variety of characterized tumors, bacterial and viral models (including SARS-CoV-2) for testing new therapies from small chemical, large biological molecules,  gene and cell therapies and DNA/RNA vaccines. The company offers high quality services tailored to support the development and accelerate the time-to-market of drug candidates and medical devices, based on a highly qualified scientific team and a wide range of in vitro & in vivo technologies. Non-clinical studies can be performed up to Biosafety Level 3, meeting the world's most stringent safety and containment requirements. Voxcan ensures scientific reliability and traceability with studies conducted as per GLP guidelines edited by OECD and ALCOA standards to guarantee data integrity, with a dedicated GLP-like quality assurance system.

This acquisition is a new major step in ERBC Group's strategy to build the leading independent non-clinical CRO in Europe. The group has already been joined in early 2023 by Oncofactory, another non-clinical development gem, also based in Lyon, France, specialized in efficacy testing and supporting patient selection for clinical trials (Phase II and III) of anticancer treatments using avian embryo models. Voxcan and Oncofactory experimental models and technology platforms are complementary pieces to better select cancer treatments for further regulatory preclinical and clinical development.

Dr. Emmanuel Chereul will take over the general and operational management of Voxcan, he will join the Group Executive Committee and will be member of ERBC's Scientific Expert Committee led by Dr. Pascal Champéroux, Chief Scientific Officer of ERBC Group. Voxcan's team will be fully integrated in the ERBC organization, remaining focused on its existing activities and will grow to serve the new businesses that ERBC's dynamism will bring.

For more information, please contact: info@erbc-group.com