InSphero Acquires CRO PhenoVista Biosciences to Strengthen U.S. Presence and High-Content Imaging Capabilities

• InSphero, the Swiss-based global leader in advanced 3D in vitro models and preclinical CRO services, has acquired PhenoVista Biosciences, Inc., a San Diego-based CRO specializing in high-content imaging, cell painting, and phenotypic assay services, in a move that strengthens InSphero’s U.S. operational footprint and expands its preclinical capabilities for drug discovery and safety testing sponsors.

• The acquisition follows InSphero’s recent acquisition of DOPPL SA and positions the combined organization to deliver integrated predictive biology and advanced imaging services — including oncology, neuroscience, fibrosis, and safety assessment — with faster turnaround times for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide.

InSphero AG, the global leader in advanced 3D in vitro models and services for drug safety and efficacy testing, has announced the acquisition of PhenoVista Biosciences, Inc., a contract research organization and premier provider of high-content imaging and phenotypic assay technologies based in San Diego, California. The transaction, announced May 20, 2026, marks InSphero’s second strategic acquisition in rapid succession — following the earlier acquisition of DOPPL SA — and significantly expands the company’s operational presence in the United States.

For pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors, the acquisition integrates two complementary preclinical service capabilities under a single platform. InSphero brings 17 years of scientific expertise in 3D in vitro models, microphysiological systems (MPS), and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) spanning liver safety, oncology, islet biology, and gastrointestinal toxicity. PhenoVista adds high-content imaging, cell painting, functional cellular analysis, and an assay services portfolio built around primary cells, iPSC-derived neurons and glia, and client-engineered cell lines across a variety of formats. Together, the combined CRO platform enables an increasingly integrated workflow from advanced 3D biology through quantitative phenotypic readout, with faster delivery timelines for sponsors.

The U.S. market rationale for the acquisition is explicit. The United States is emerging as one of the fastest-growing markets for NAMs, supported by active policy and investment initiatives from the FDA and the National Institutes of Health aimed at accelerating adoption of human-relevant testing technologies. By acquiring an established, California-based CRO with existing client relationships and imaging infrastructure, InSphero gains an immediate operational base in this market rather than building presence organically.

The addition of PhenoVista’s expertise is particularly significant for InSphero’s neuroscience and neurotoxicity programs. High-content imaging, cell painting, and functional cellular analysis address increasingly complex biological questions in this area that 3D in vitro models alone cannot fully resolve. The combined platform is also expected to support advances in oncology and fibrosis research, where phenotypic profiling alongside 3D tissue models provides a more complete picture of compound activity and safety liability for sponsors.

“Over the past 17 years, InSphero has built a strong reputation for scientific excellence, operational robustness, and innovation in predictive in vitro biology. With PhenoVista joining InSphero, we are adding highly complementary expertise, an exceptional team, and a stronger operational presence in the US market. Most importantly, this acquisition allows us to serve our customers even better by combining cutting-edge biology with advanced imaging and phenotypic analysis in an increasingly integrated way with fast turn-around times.”

Dr. Jan Lichtenberg, CEO and Co-founder, InSphero