It may seem counterintuitive, but the Swedish biotech company Cellink is actually fabricating tumors in an effort to combat cancer. The company, which exploded on the scene in 2016, has risen to fame as a result of their biological ink, designed to be used by a variety of 3D printers to create different types of cell tissues. The founders, Erik Gatenholm and Hector Martinez Avila, then went on to create a tissue printing 3D printer that sells for only $10k and the demand has been phenomenal.

The market for bioprinting is expected to triple between 2016 and 2021, to around $1,33 bn. [Image courtesy of Cellink]
“You will be able to see how a tumor grows and how it would respond to different treatments. It’s a very relevant and a realistic model for research.”

Cellink sells both the 3D printers and the bio-ink. The printers are priced between $10,000 and $39,000. [Image courtesy of Cellink]
The ability to use bioink to create tumors frees researchers of the many ethical concerns associated with testing as well as reduces the costs associated with such research activities. Currently, a great deal of the medical testing being undertaken to advance cancer treatments occurs on animals, something that Cellink hopes will be able to be replaced with these made-in-the-lab tumors. The driving idea is that not only will new methods of addressing cancerous tumors be able to be developed, but that also medical researchers can begin to explore personalized means of delivering cancer treatments, hopefully with fewer negative side effects.

Cellink’s founders Hector Martinez Avila (left) and Erik Gatenholm (right), with Cellink CCO Ariel Kramer at Nasdaq First North for the IPO. [Image courtesy of Business Insider Nordic]
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