Industry Update: Business Development

Latest business developments compiled from 1—31 July 2015

Latest developments in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine compiled from publicly available information and press releases from non-academic institutions 1—31 July 2015, scheduled to be published in Volume 10 Issue 8 of Regenerative Medicine.

Collaborations, partnerships & alliances

Collaboration agreement: ORIG3N and Sturge-Weber Foundation

ORIG3N (MA, USA; www.orig3n.com) has entered in collaboration agreement with the Sturge-Weber Foundation (NJ, USA: www.sturge-weber.org) to enable a better understanding of Sturge-Weber syndrome (OMIM #185300). Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare condition caused by the guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), q polypeptide (GNAQ) gene mutation. It is characterized by a congenital facial birthmark and neurological abnormalities. Other symptoms associated with Sturge-Weber can include eye, endocrine and organ irregularities, as well as developmental disabilities. Each case of Sturge-Weber Syndrome is unique and exhibits the characteristics to varying degrees. As part of the research program, ORIG3N collected patient blood samples to reprogram the cells from the patients into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then differentiated into neurons. The collective patient-specific samples will be used by researchers for disease modeling with the goal of developing better therapeutic treatments.

Partnership agreement: apceth and University of Cologne

apceth (Germany; www.apceth.com) and the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne (Germany; www.zmmk.uni-koeln.de), combined technologies and expertise on the development of immunotherapies for solid tumors and haematological malignancies. The collaboration is based on combinations of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, developed at the CMMC against multiple tumor-associated antigens, and apceth-developed engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). This project will focus on the use of engineered MSCs to promote the local activation of CAR T cells within tumors. The approach will therefore increase the specificity of CAR T immunotherapies, as activation of CAR T cells will be limited outside of tumors.

Sublicensing agreement: Axiogenesis and GE Healthcare

Axiogenesis (Germany; www.axiogenesis.com) has signed a sublicense agreement with GE Healthcare (UK; www.gehealthcare.com). Under the agreement, GE Healthcare will sublicense intellectual property to use human iPSCs, enabling Axiogenesis to develop cellular assays and models derived from stem cells for use in drug discovery and toxicity screening for its customers. This agreement strengthens Axiogenesis’ ability to offer the market freedom-to-operate with Axiogenesis’ proprietary iPSC-derived cells and tissues. Axiogenesis commercial products include cardiac and neuronal subtypes, as well as the corresponding iPSC-derived connective tissues (e.g. cardiac fibroblasts and astrocytes) for highly physiological in vitro model systems. Pure human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, (Cor.4Uâ„¢), are a defined mixture of atrial, ventricular and pacemaker cells. A ventricular cardiomyocyte subpopulation product, (CorV.4Uâ„¢), was recently launched. Cardiomyocytes bearing disease-associated genetic mutations, using technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9, as well as integrated detection sensor technologies, are in development. The neuronal portfolio currently includes peripheral (Peri.4Uâ„¢) and dopaminergic (Dopa.4Uâ„¢) neurons. A CNS population of neuronal subtypes modeling the midbrain and astrocytes will also be launched in 2015.

Launching new projects, products and services

CellectCell

Medtown Ventures (GA, USA; www.medtownventures.com), a venture development firm, has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GA, USA; www.gtrc.gatech.edu) for a new adhesive-signature based stem cell selection and isolation technology. To focus on the commercialization of this new cell selection and isolation technology, Medtown has formed a new company, CellectCell™ Inc., with the inventors of the technology. The signed license agreement allows CellectCell to develop manufacture, use and sell products containing the technology for all fields of use. The μSHEAR™ technology developed at Georgia Tech will allow for researchers to isolate populations of cells with greater than 95% purity in less than 5 minutes while not altering or manipulating the cell itself.

Celprogen

Celprogen (CA, USA; www.celprogen.com) have developed a novel Xeno-Free Serum Substitute [XFS²] cell culture media product for human cell culture systems. XFS² media can be utilized for culturing stem cells, progenitor cells, human embryonic and induced pluripotent cells (hESC and iPSC) and primary human cells for clinical application. The product can also be utilized for culturing cancer stem cells, circulating tumor cells and differentiated parental tumor cells for basic science research in oncology.