Aelius Biotech

Aelius Biotech, established in 2018 as a spin-out from Newcastle University, operates as a contract research organization specializing in preclinical gastrointestinal modeling. The company was founded by Dr. Peter Chater, Dr. Matthew Wilcox, and Professor Jeff Pearson, leveraging their extensive research in gastrointestinal physiology and mucus. Their journey began with the development of an in-vitro digestion system at the university between 2010 and 2014, which led to the creation of a fully integrated model capable of simulating the entire digestive process.

The firm's core business revolves around providing advanced in-vitro testing services to the pharmaceutical, consumer health, and functional food industries. Aelius assists clients in de-risking and accelerating product development by offering a laboratory-based alternative to animal testing. Its business model is service-based, generating revenue by conducting studies for clients that include major nutrition companies like Huel, as well as alternative protein and lab-grown meat manufacturers. The company has secured significant funding to support its growth, including a £1.25 million investment in 2023 and a subsequent £750,000 in 2025, which has facilitated team expansion, relocation to new laboratories in Newcastle, and plans for international market entry into the US and Europe.

Aelius Biotech's key offering is its proprietary model gut system, a sophisticated in-vitro platform that simulates the human digestive tract. Uniquely, this model is the first to integrate all three critical stages of digestion: the breakdown in the gut, permeation across the mucus layer, and final absorption by epithelial cells. This is made possible by a patented, cell-compatible mucus that transforms standard 2D cell cultures into more physiologically relevant 3D systems. This integrated approach provides clients with highly predictive data on how their products, ranging from drugs to novel foods, will perform and be absorbed in the human body, thereby enabling more informed, data-driven decisions early in the development cycle. In addition to its lab models, the company also offers streamlined human trial services for nutritional supplements and functional foods.

Keywords: gastrointestinal models, in-vitro testing, drug development, preclinical research, gut simulation, mucosal surfaces, animal-free testing, digestion absorption model, pharmaceutical services, nutraceutical testing, functional foods, contract research organization, CRO, bioavailability studies, mucus permeation, epithelial absorption, Newcastle University spin-out, formulation development, alternative protein testing, human gut model