Sartorius Group, an international pharmaceutical and laboratory equipment supplier, completed the acquisition of a minority stake in TheWell Bioscience, a company that develops, markets and sells VitroGel, a biofunctional animal-free synthetic hydrogel for three dimensional cell cultures. Financial terms were not disclosed. TheWell Bioscience is a pioneer in the field of animal-free hydrogels and bioinks, critical components for the creation of 3D biomimicking platforms, also known as 3D cell models, for precision medicine, cell therapy and biomanufacturing. These models are complex biological structures that mimic the organization and function of cells in living organisms, enabling a more accurate prediction of the efficacy, toxicity, and side effects of drugs in humans. As they address the shift from animal-based to more human-relevant organoid models, 3D cell models are a key strategic growth area for Sartorius.