VivoSim Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIVS) announced plans to develop a rat liver model that would complement its existing NAMkind human liver platform, according to a press release from the San Diego-based company.

The planned model is intended to help pharmaceutical companies determine when liver toxicity observed in rats may be species-specific and not relevant to humans. VivoSim's current human liver model is designed to identify human toxicity that may not appear in animal studies, while the rat model would provide the reverse capability.

"This gives us the ability to look at the same toxicity question from both sides," said Keith Murphy, Executive Chairman of VivoSim Labs. "If a compound is toxic in rats but not in our human liver model, that additional evidence may help sponsors better understand whether the finding is truly relevant to patients."

The company said it plans to validate the rat model using compounds with known differences between rat and human liver toxicity. Rat toxicology testing remains widely used across large pharmaceutical development programs.

Amar Sethi, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of VivoSim Labs, said the paired approach is aimed at helping biopharma partners avoid premature termination of drug candidates. "Differentiating true human risk from rat-specific liver toxicity is a major issue in preclinical development," Sethi said.

VivoSim Labs provides drug testing services using three-dimensional human tissue models of liver and intestine.