LYON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 28, 2026--
CTIBIOTECH Announces the CTIONCOTEST ™ Project to Revolutionize Cancer Research with 3D Bioprinted Microtumors, Backed by France 2030 and Bpifrance
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CTIBIOTECH™, an innovative French Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) based in Meyzieu-Lyon, proudly announces the launch of the CTIONCOTEST ™ project, a groundbreaking €3 million initiative aimed at transforming preclinical cancer research. To accelerate this critical innovation, CTIBIOTECH ™ has been awarded €1.25 million in funding from Bpifrance under the "Aide au Développement Deeptech" program, with the strategic support of France 2030 and the Government of France.
Currently, 95% of new cancer drugs fail during human clinical trials, costing the pharmaceutical industry billions of euros and delaying life-saving treatments for patients. The CTIONCOTEST ™ project addresses this urgent global health challenge by developing an automated, industrial-scale process to 3D bioprint hundreds of standardized human "microtumors" directly from a specific cancer patient's primary tumor cells.
Over a 36-month period, the project will advance the technology from a working prototype (TRL 5) to a fully functional, high-throughput commercial product (TRL 8) ready for market entry by 2029.
Key highlights of the CTIONCOTEST ™ project include:
Professor Colin McGuckin, President and Chief Scientific Officer of CTIBIOTECH shared his pride and vision "The industrialization of the CTIONCOTEST platform marks a crucial step toward personalized medicine against cancer, where treatments can be individually tailored to a patient's specific tumor profile".
"This financial support from the French State represents a vital lever to maximize the impact of our technology, allowing us to advance twice as fast in developing and commercializing these 3D bioprinted microtumors for transform cancer drug development" added Dr Nico Forraz, Chief Executive Officer of CTIBIOTECH
The CTIONCOTEST™ project will directly contribute to local economic growth, creating 5 immediate permanent scientific positions in 2026, with projections to create 51 jobs and 16 million euros revenue by 2031. Research, development, and industrialization efforts will be conducted at CTIBIOTECH’s 800m² state-of-the-art facility and certified biobank in Meyzieu, Metropolis of Lyon, France.
About CTIBIOTECH™: CTIBIOTECH™ is a global biotechnology company specializing leader in 3D bioprinting and advanced human tissue engineering. By transforming discarded human surgical tissues into high-value predictive bioassays, CTIBIOTECH™ provides integrated drug discovery, development and innovation solutions for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and cell therapy industries globally.
Note to Editors: High-resolution images and interviews with CTIBIOTECH™ executives are available upon request.
The CTIONCOTEST™ platform by CTIBIOTECH is an innovative 3D bioprinting technology that revolutionizes preclinical cancer research . It provides an automated, industrial-scale process to produce high-throughput, patient-specific human "microtumors" directly from primary tumor cells . Designed to tackle the 95% clinical failure rate of new cancer drugs, it faithfully replicates the complex tumor microenvironment, including critical hypoxic and necrotic zones . Targeting high-mortality breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers, the platform features three complexity levels: standard (cancer cells), intermediate (+fibroblasts), and advanced (+immune/endothelial cells) . A key breakthrough is its record cellular viability of 128 days, enabling unprecedented long-term studies on drug resistance and metastasis . Ultimately, CTIONCOTEST delivers a highly predictive, 100% human-derived ethical alternative to animal testing.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and King Charles III greeted each other warmly on Tuesday as the monarch began a day of diplomacy in Washington designed to emphasize a bond between the United Kingdom and the United States that is so strong it can withstand the political turmoil of the moment.
Trump welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The king shook hands with members of Trump's Cabinet before joining the president for a rendition of the national anthem.
The leaders will huddle later in the Oval Office for a meeting that’s closed to the public, reducing the potential for the freewheeling, sometimes controversial meetings with foreign officials that have become routine during Trump’s second term.
Charles will later become the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. Her speech highlighted the shared history of both countries and the importance of their democratic values, themes Charles will likely reinforce on Tuesday.
Such addresses are an opportunity afforded to only the most prominent world leaders, including Pope Francis, Václav Havel and Winston Churchill. It will likely mark the most extensive public remarks Charles will deliver during a four-day visit to the U.S. that's intended to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., became the first sitting leader of his chamber to address the U.K. Parliament earlier this year. He attended a garden party with the king in Washington on Monday and said he told him he would be “well received” in Congress.
The visit comes at a challenging moment for U.S.-U.K. relations. Trump’s up-and-down relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the Republican president has sought to rally international support for the war in Iran. Trump criticized Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, by saying “this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.”
Trump has also imposed tariffs on the U.K. and warned of additional levies despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that has made such unilateral moves more challenging. Trump threatened just last week to slap a “big tariff” on the U.K. if it doesn't scrap a digital services tax on U.S. technology companies.
Trump has more broadly challenged the traditional trans-Atlantic alliance with efforts to annex Greenland and threats to walk away from NATO. He has repeatedly imposed tariffs on and taunted Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the U.S. There's no indication that he will do so even as the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which he denies.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York blamed Republican policies on Monday for straining the U.S.-U.K. relationship.
“Hopefully, the king's visit is going to go a long way toward repairing the damage that this administration has done to one of our most important allies in the world,” Jeffries said.
Charles and Camilla arrived at the nation's capital on Monday and held a tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will continue their U.S. trip later this week with stops in New York City and Virginia.
Associated Press writer Stephen Groves in Washington contributed to this report.
Britain's King Charles III talks President Donald Trump during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand on the Blue room Balcony during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump, Britain's King Charles III, first lady Melania Trump and stand on stage during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Donald Trump, from left, King Charles III, first lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla stand for the national anthems of their respective countries during an arrival ceremony among others on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III are seated on stage during a State Visit arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Staff members prepare the South Lawn before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a State Visit arrival ceremony at White House, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III turn to walk into the White House, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they arrive at the White House, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump along with Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla walk on the South Lawn to visit the White House garden and bee hive at the White House, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III talk at the White House, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).
House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., talks with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband Paul before Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at a garden party at the British Embassy, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (Roberto Schmidt/Pool via AP)
Britain's King Charles III talks with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during a garden party at the British Embassy, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (Roberto Schmidt/Pool via AP)
Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at a garden party at the British Embassy, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Washington. (Roberto Schmidt/Pool via AP)
