Cynata and apceth enter license agreement to develop cell-based therapies
apceth (Munich, Germany) is set to use its genetic modification technology to develop Australian stem cell and regenerative medicine company Cynata Therapeutics’ Cymerusâ„¢ mesenchymal stem cells, for a wider range of therapeutic targets.
Cynata Therapeutics Limited (Australia) has announced a worldwide license option agreement with apceth GmbH & Co. KG (Munich, Germany), combining Cynata’s mesenchymal stem cells (Cymerusâ„¢) technology with apceth’s genetic modification technologies, with the aim of increasing the range of fields or diseases that the mesenchymal stem cells can be applied for, particularly those with outstanding unmet needs, such as cancer.
In an initial collaboration expected to end at the end of this year, apceth is already evaluating Cynata’s technology in its in-house cell culture and genetic modification systems. Following an immediate upfront cash payment to Cynata, followed by a series of success-based milestones that could potentially total more than A$40 million, apceth will develop the mesenchymal stem cells using its gene-editing technology.
“We are delighted to have concluded this license option agreement with Cynata for the further development and eventual commercialisation of Cymerus, a very innovative therapeutic MSC technology, in combination with genetic modification techniques. With access now to Cymerus, a truly scalable manufacturing technology for therapeutic MSCs, we are very excited about future off-the-shelf therapeutic products,” stated Dr Christine Gunther, Chief Executive Officer at apceth.
“The combined technologies of Cynata and apceth provide a powerful solution that significantly expands the range of therapeutic applications for MSCs. Through the apceth-engineered enhancements of our Cymerus MSCs we expect to see the development of new treatments that were previously not appropriate for MSCs, one of the most promising and fastest gr owing areas of medicine today. Outside of the arrangement with apceth Cynata remains free to develop all other applications of its technologies,” commented Dr Ross Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Cynata.