Scalable Human iPSC-Derived Pancreatic Ductal Organoids for Translational Drug Evaluation

The FDA recently announced a plan for replacing animal testing requirements for monoclonal antibodies and other drugs with more effective, human-relevant models such as organoids. Organoids are three-dimensional, stem cell–derived systems that recapitulate key aspects of human tissue architecture and function, with rapid advances driving their adoption in translational research and drug development. Human iPSC–derived pancreatic duct-like organoids (PDLOs) offer a particularly compelling model for studying pancreatic ductal biology and evaluating emerging therapies.

In this webinar, we present a streamlined 30-day differentiation workflow and comprehensive characterization of PDLOs demonstrating high lineage purity, mature ductal identity, and functional CFTR activity. Using flow cytometry, capillary-based immunoassays, and immunofluorescence imaging, we show efficient progression through key developmental stages, yielding PDLOs composed of >90% KRT19⁺ ductal epithelial cells with organized, polarized architectures. Functional assays reveal robust, inhibitor-responsive CFTR-mediated swelling, supporting the use of PDLOs for testing gene replacement, gene editing, and other advanced therapeutic approaches.

We also highlight the advantages of Simple Western™ Technology in organoid research, where sample availability is often limited and assay reproducibility is paramount. Simple Western enables highly quantitative, automated protein size and identity analysis from organoid lysates, reducing hands-on time while improving data consistency across batches and differentiation runs. When paired with high quality reagents and standardized workflows, this scalable PDLO platform provides a robust, translational in vitro model for preclinical safety and efficacy evaluation in pancreatic ductal disorders.