Promega Corporation has signed a licensing agreement with BrainXell to bring its NanoLuc, NanoBiT and HaloTag technologies into human stem cell-based models used for neurological research and drug discovery.
The agreement will allow BrainXell to incorporate Promega’s reporter technologies into induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and models of the central nervous system (CNS). The collaboration aims to give researchers better tools to study protein activity and understand disease processes in human neural cells.
Under the agreement, BrainXell will be authorised to engineer the three technologies into its iPSC-derived cell models, including neurons and other specialised cells of the nervous system. These models can then be used to study protein expression, location, interactions and degradation in living human cells.
Improving Human Cell Models for Drug Discovery
Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like early-stage stem cells. They can be developed into different types of human cells, including neurons and glial cells, making them valuable tools for studying neurological diseases.
By using these cells, researchers can create laboratory models that more closely reflect human biology. This can help improve the early stages of drug discovery and provide better insights into how potential treatments may work.
Promega’s technologies are designed to make these studies more accurate and easier to monitor.
NanoLuc is a highly sensitive bioluminescent reporter that produces light, allowing scientists to measure biological activity within cells.
NanoBiT is a protein interaction monitoring system that helps researchers understand how proteins interact with each other. This can provide important information about cellular signalling and disease-related processes.
HaloTag is a protein labelling technology that allows scientists to attach specific chemical probes to proteins. It can be used to study protein location, movement and function inside cells.
Together, these technologies will allow researchers to investigate different aspects of protein behaviour in human neural models.
Supporting Central Nervous System Research
BrainXell will use its existing expertise in stem cell differentiation to develop specialised neural cell models incorporating Promega’s technologies.
The company produces human iPSC-derived neurons and other nervous system cells, including astrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, microglia and endothelial cells.
These models can support research into neurological conditions and help pharmaceutical companies evaluate potential drug candidates.
Michael Hendrickson, Vice President of Operations at BrainXell, said the agreement would allow customers to access customised neural cell models equipped with advanced reporter technologies. He added that these tools could support more efficient and clinically relevant CNS drug discovery.
Kevin Kopish, Associate Fellow of Product Discovery and Adoption at Promega, said the licensing agreement would make it easier for research teams to access specialised reporter-enabled human neural models without needing to develop the technology themselves.
Expanding Research Capabilities
Promega provides more than 4,000 products and technologies supporting life sciences research, drug development, molecular diagnostics and other scientific applications.
BrainXell focuses on developing human stem cell-derived models for neuroscience research and drug discovery. Its products are used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as academic research institutions.
The companies will also showcase their technologies at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting, Neuroscience 2026, taking place in Washington, D.C., from November 14 to 18.
The collaboration highlights the growing role of human stem cell-based models in pharmaceutical research. By combining Promega’s protein monitoring technologies with BrainXell’s specialised neural cells, the companies aim to help researchers better understand neurological diseases and support the development of new treatments.