Chinese distributor appointment at life sciences tech firm

York-based life sciences business, Kirkstall, has appointed a new distributor, Beijing Kilby Biotechnology Co Ltd (BKB) for China.

The agreement is exclusive and covers distribution within China for all of Kirkstall’s Quasi Vivo® products.

BKB will execute a sales and marketing campaign over the next 18 months with the objective of achieving sales throughout the country.

Kirkstall, which is 86.11% owned by Braveheart Investment Group Plc, operates in the market known as “organ-on-a-chip”.

It has developed Quasi Vivo®, a system of chambers for cell and tissue culture in laboratories.

The firm’s patented technology is used by researchers in the growing New Approach Methodologies, which enable human-relevant drug safety decisions to be made without the need for animal testing.

Ansen Pan, CEO of BKB, said: “The 3D cell culture and organ-on-chip related products are currently an open opportunity in the Chinese market.

“In January 2024, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) issued guiding principles, which for the first time included three-dimensional tissue models and organ-on-chip technology in the non-clinical research guidelines for human derived stem cell products, making it an important technical means for evaluating the non-clinical efficacy and safety of drugs.

“We are deeply honoured to collaborate with Kirkstall and promote their excellent technology.

“Kirkstall has been widely recognised by academic, CRO and industrial customers globally with Quasi Vivo® demonstrating excellent product performance for predictive, physiological, and animal-free in vitro models.”