Rapid In Vivo Screening Services

Inquiry

In oncology drug discovery, the ability to quickly identify promising candidates and deprioritize those with limited potential is critical for resource allocation and timeline management. Traditional efficacy studies often require large cohort sizes and extended observation periods, which can delay decision-making. Alfa Cytology offers rapid in vivo screening services, a streamlined, cost-effective solution, designed to deliver early go/no-go decisions within weeks, not months.

Introduction to Rapid In Vivo Screening

Rapid in vivo screening is an efficacy assessment strategy implemented in the early stages of drug discovery, designed with a focus on speed and resource efficiency. Its core design philosophy departs from the exhaustive data-generation paradigm of traditional long-term efficacy studies, opting instead for a highly streamlined experimental protocol. Key features of this strategy include the use of a small number of animals per cohort (typically 3-5), a limited set of critical dose levels (usually 2-3), and the prioritization of high-sensitivity imaging technologies (e.g., bioluminescence or fluorescence imaging) for rapid quantification of key metrics such as tumor burden and metastasis. This compresses the entire study timeline from several months to just 1-4 weeks. The primary purpose is not to replace subsequent, more rigorous formal efficacy studies, but to serve as an efficient "decision filter," enabling research teams to complete compound triage, determine potential dose ranges, and identify promising lead candidates before committing significant resources to large-scale, long-term validation studies.

Fig. 1 Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) process.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology offers flexible rapid in vivo screening packages customized to your specific program needs. Our platform is built upon a lean, high-throughput design that prioritizes speed without compromising data quality.

Typical Study Design

Group Design: Vehicle control + 2-3 dose groups, 3-5 mice per group; imaging-based decision points
Study Timeline: Primary readout available within 1 week post-treatment; full study completion typically in 3-4 weeks
Treatment Duration: 7-14 days (depending on tumor growth rate)
Supported Models: CDX, PDX, PDOX, and syngeneic tumor models (client-provided or from our validated model library)
Readout Modalities: Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), fluorescence imaging (GFP/RFP/NIR), caliper measurement
Primary Endpoints: Tumor volume (imaging or caliper), body weight, clinical observation
Optional Endpoints: PK sampling, PD markers (e.g., target engagement by IHC or western blot), ex vivo imaging

Why Alfa Cytology

Alfa Cytology's rapid in vivo screening is built specifically for early-stage oncology decision-making. Combining lean study designs, high-sensitivity imaging, and flexible endpoints, our platform enables faster, smarter candidate prioritization without compromising data confidence. Our design is powered to detect large-effect-size differences (>50% tumor growth inhibition), providing directional data for rapid filtering, not as a substitute for regulatory or definitive late-stage studies.

Platforms & Facility

State-of-the-art small animal imaging systems (bioluminescence, fluorescence, and multi-spectral imaging)
SPF-grade animal facilities with continuous environmental monitoring
Validated oncology model library (CDX, PDX, PDOX, syngeneic models) ready for immediate use
Automated data acquisition and processing pipelines to minimize variability and accelerate readouts
PK/PD sample processing capabilities (plasma, tissue, and ex vivo imaging)

Advantages

Primary efficacy readouts available within 1 week; full studies completed in 3–4 weeks (not months).
Only 3–5 mice per group, reducing compound use and animal numbers.
BLI and fluorescence imaging quantify tumor burden before palpable.
Identify promising candidates early; deprioritize weak ones before costly long-term studies.
Optional PK sampling, PD markers (IHC/western blot), and ex vivo imaging available.
Streamlined protocols lower costs while maintaining decision-grade data confidence.

Workflow of Our Service

Alfa Cytology offers flexible rapid in vivo screening packages customized to your program needs, whether you are screening single candidates, performing dose-range finding, or triaging a small lead series. If you seek further exploration of rapid in vivo screening services for your cancer drug candidates, please feel free to contact us.

References

Hamilton AG, et al. High-Throughput In Vivo Screening Using Barcoded mRNA Identifies Lipid Nanoparticles With Extrahepatic Tropism for In Situ Immunoengineering. Adv Mater. 2026 Mar;38(13):e14370.
Carroll FI, Houghten RA. From rapid in vitro screening to rapid in vivo screening in the drug discovery process. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009;34(1):251-252.

For research use only.

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Please note that we are not a pharmacy or clinic, so we are unable to see patients and do not offer diagnostic and treatment services for individuals.