Revvity is expanding its life sciences portfolio into human-relevant metabolic disease models through an agreement to acquire French biotechnology company Human Cell Design (HCD). The transaction is expected to bring HCD’s human pancreatic beta cell models and proprietary cell-line development technology into Revvity’s drug discovery offering, with potential applications spanning diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders. The companies expect the acquisition to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory clearances. Financial terms were not disclosed. For Revvity, the acquisition adds a human-cell component to a broader technology portfolio that includes cell analysis, detection, screening, automation and gene-editing capabilities.

HCD specializes in human cell models designed to support preclinical research and drug discovery. Its lead EndoC-βH5 model is a human pancreatic beta cell system intended to help researchers investigate beta cell biology and function in metabolic disease.

The company also develops specialized culture media and reagents and provides preclinical research services. Its NatLine platform is designed to generate functionally consistent human cell models for research applications.

“Human Cell Design was founded on the belief that better human models can help transform the way medicines are discovered and developed,” says Guillaume Costecalde, founder and President of Human Cell Design. “Joining Revvity is expected to allow us to bring our human cell models and NatLine technology to a broader global customer base while supporting the development of new physiologically relevant cell models.”

The companies see opportunities to combine HCD’s beta cell models with Revvity’s existing assay and screening technologies, particularly as drug developers pursue increasingly human-relevant systems for metabolic disease research.

EndoC-βH5 cells can be used with Revvity’s HTRF™ and AlphaLISA™ assay platforms to evaluate pharmacological signals including cAMP and insulin. The cells can also be paired with pHSense™ technology for receptor internalization studies and ATPlite™ assays for assessing cell viability and proliferation.

According to Revvity, the integration could also extend into high-content screening, where researchers analyze multiple cellular characteristics simultaneously to generate more detailed biological profiles. The company expects these capabilities to be relevant to research around GLP-1 and other metabolic disease targets, including GPCR-based drug discovery.

“As researchers continue to seek more human-relevant approaches to understanding biology, combining high-quality cell models with our capabilities in screening, detection, automation and analysis creates an opportunity to provide customers with more integrated solutions,” says Prahlad Singh, President and CEO of Revvity.

The proposed acquisition could extend beyond conventional early-stage drug discovery. HCD’s cell technologies are also being investigated for applications in regenerative medicine, including research into cell-based approaches for Type 1 diabetes. The models may additionally have a role in quality-control activities as cell therapies advance toward commercial development.

The broader strategic opportunity for Revvity is therefore not limited to adding another screening model to its portfolio. By combining human-derived cellular systems with analytical and screening technologies, the company aims to provide tools that can be used across multiple stages of therapeutic development.

The companies also point to the growing role of artificial intelligence in life sciences research. As AI-driven approaches generate new biological hypotheses and potential therapeutic insights, experimental systems capable of validating those findings remain essential. Human-relevant cellular models could provide part of that validation layer.

For more information, visit https://www.revvity.com/.