Building What’s Next: Parimer Adds 3D Cell-Based Assays to Accelerate Oncology R&D

Parimer has welcomed a new scientist with a strong background in drug discovery and assay development. Her arrival brings an important new capability to Parimer’s chemistry team: 3D, cell-based efficacy testing that helps clients evaluate compounds faster and more effectively.

With a PhD in Biomedical Sciences focused on drug discovery and experience in high-throughput screening, mechanism-of-action studies, and advanced 3D models, she has spent her career designing assays that answer one question: Is the drug working the way we think it is?

Now, Parimer’s clients will benefit from that same approach.

Why This Matters

Most early drug screens still use 2D cell cultures. While quick and inexpensive, these models miss important biological behaviors that emerge only in three dimensions.

In 3D spheroid and ex vivo patient-derived models, drug diffusion and microenvironmental factors significantly affect how compounds behave. Incorporating 3D testing earlier in the discovery process enables:

• Better triage of analogs before animal studies

• More realistic potency estimates

• Rapid combination testing to identify synergies

• Early insights into potential responder populations

What Parimer Can Now Do

Working alongside Parimer’s expert chemists, who design, modify, purify, and package small molecules, the new biology function adds the ability to test compounds in 3D, in vitro cell-based systems.

New services include:

• 3D tumor cell-killing assays

• High-throughput screening in 96- and 384-well formats

• Custom assay design and qualification for specific mechanisms (such as receptor internalization or cell migration)

• Patient-derived testing through approved vendor networks

• Rank-ordering of analog series with EC50/IC50 data and clear go or no-go recommendations

Together, these capabilities move Parimer from a chemistry partner to a full-service preclinical resource, from make, to qualify, to prioritize.

Example Workflows

1. Analog Triage

• Inputs: 5 -15 small-molecule analogs from a live med-chem campaign

• Assay: 3D spheroids with 8–12-point concentration curves

• Outputs: Rank-order summary, EC50/IC50 table, and next-step recommendations

2. Patient-Derived Panel (NSCLC Example)

• Inputs: Lead compound plus reference standard

• Assay: Multiple patient-derived NSCLC samples grown in 3D

• Outputs: Response distribution, identification of potential responder subgroups, and guidance for in vivo design

3. Combination Hypothesis Screen

• Inputs: Lead compound plus a secondary mechanism

• Assay: Checkerboard matrix in 3D format

• Outputs: Synergy and antagonism maps, recommended concentration ranges

4. 2D to 3D Translation Check

• Purpose: Compare 2D potency to 3D behavior

• Outputs: Delta-potency analysis and optimized dosing guidance

Deliverables Clients Receive

• Method overview and QC notes

• Raw and processed data (curves, heatmaps, annotated images)

• Interpretation memo with risk analysis and next-step guidance

• Optional follow-up design for in vivo or combination studies

Scope and Roadmap

The current focus is tumor-cell killing assays for oncology programs, using both cell lines and patient-derived samples.

In the future, Parimer plans to expand into immuno-oncology co-culture systems (including T-cell activation and cytokine profiling) as additional instrumentation becomes available.

Who Benefits Most

• Early-stage oncology startups seeking rapid, decision-ready data

• Med-chem teams needing objective rank-ordering of analogs

• Academic spinouts validating new mechanisms before animal studies

• Business development teams preparing data packages for investors or partners

Services at a Glance

• 3D spheroid and organoid assays (96- and 384-well)

• Concentration–response curves with EC50/IC50 estimation

• Combination and interaction mapping

• Viability and morphology readouts

• Patient-derived sample testing (when accessible)

• Custom assay design for mechanism-specific readouts

Get Started

Interested in learning more?

Request a feasibility discussion and sample requirements sheet to define your model, plates, readouts, timelines, and deliverables.

Parimer’s team will align the design and testing strategy to match your program’s stage and goals.