Atelerix Launches STORganoid: Cryo-Free Ambient-Temperature Preservation for Organoids and Spheroids

UK biotech Atelerix has launched STORganoid™, a first-of-its-kind ambient-temperature preservation solution for organoids and spheroids. The product enables complex 3D cell models to be stored and shipped over extended periods without cryopreservation, cold chain logistics, or compromised viability, removing a long-standing bottleneck in the global adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).

The Cold Chain Problem Holding Back Organoid Research

Organoids and spheroids are among the most predictive tools available in drug discovery and disease modelling. But despite their scientific value, their fragility has made reliable distribution a persistent challenge. These complex 3D cell models are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, meaning conventional cryopreservation and hypothermic storage methods can damage structural integrity, reduce viability, and compromise reproducibility.

The result: organoid-based research has largely been confined to specialist laboratories with the infrastructure to generate and maintain their own cultures on-site. For global pharmaceutical teams, contract research organisations, and academic collaborators, transferring high-quality organoid models between sites has remained costly, logistically complex, and scientifically risky.

How STORganoid Works: Hydrogel Encapsulation at Ambient Temperature

STORganoid is built on Atelerix's proprietary hydrogel encapsulation technology. Organoids and spheroids are embedded within a soft hydrogel matrix that stabilises cell membrane integrity and maintains viability at room temperature, eliminating the need for dry ice, liquid nitrogen, or refrigerated transport.

The product is designed to deliver models in an assay-ready format, meaning research teams can move directly from receipt to experimental work. There is no need for the lengthy culture recovery protocols that typically add days to organoid workflows. For multi-site studies and inter-laboratory collaborations, this represents a significant reduction in both lead times and logistical overhead.

Supporting the Broader Adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

Regulatory momentum behind NAMs, including organoids, microphysiological systems, and other human-relevant in vitro models, has accelerated in recent years. Agencies including the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency have issued guidance frameworks encouraging the integration of these approaches into preclinical safety and efficacy testing.

However, practical standardisation across the sector has lagged, in part because reliable organoid distribution at scale has never been solved. A cryo-free, ambient-temperature preservation solution like STORganoid could play a meaningful role in closing that gap, enabling the reproducibility studies and reference sample programmes that support broader regulatory acceptance of NAMs.

Steve Swioklo, CSO and Co-founder of Atelerix, said: "STORganoid addresses one of the key barriers to broader adoption of these highly predictive cell-based models by freeing them from the constraints of specialised laboratory environments and lengthy culture protocols. We are proud to be contributing to the harmonisation and accessibility of new approach methodologies, helping to bring cutting-edge science closer to real-world application."

Applications Across Drug Discovery, Disease Modelling, and Personalised Medicine

STORganoid is designed to support a wide range of life science applications, including:

• Drug discovery and toxicology screening, where reproducible organoid assays are increasingly required by sponsors and regulators

• Disease modelling in oncology, gastroenterology, and rare disease research

• Personalised medicine programmes that depend on rapid transfer of patient-derived organoid models between clinical and research settings

• Cell therapy workflows requiring reliable biosample logistics across global sites

A Scalable Solution for the Growing Organoid Market

STORganoid expands Atelerix's portfolio of fresh biosample preservation products, applying the company's core hydrogel platform to the fast-growing organoid and cell therapy markets. The product is positioned as a scalable commercial solution aligned with rising demand for standardised, distribution-ready 3D cell models, and is expected to underpin new partnerships and more efficient global distribution models for organoid-based research tools.

STORganoid is available now from Atelerix. For technical specifications, partnership enquiries, or to request a sample, visit atelerix.com.