ReNeuron and Cell Therapy Catapult announce collaboration
Will focus on CTX stem cell line of ReNeuron and develop new manufacturing technologies and assays
ReNeuron Group, a UK-based clinical-stage stem cell business, has agreed to work with the Cell Therapy Catapult to develop new cell therapy manufacturing technologies and assays. The Cell Therapy Catapult, a UK centre of excellence for regenerative medicine established in 2012 at Guy’s Hospital in London to stimulate innovation in this area, will contribute £1.3m to the collaboration.
The work will focus on ReNeuron's leading CTX stem cell line, which is used in the company’s ReN001 therapy for stroke (currently in Phase I clinical development), and in its ReN009 therapy for critical limb ischaemia, shortly to enter clinical development.
The collaboration will focus on the development and optimisation of the processes required to scale up manufacture of the CTX cell line, including rapid cell culture techniques, cryopreservation methodologies and the development of protocols for automated manufacturing processes.
ReNeuron and the Cell Therapy Catapult will also work on improved potency assays for the CTX cells, based on the characteristics of the cells and their potential mechanisms of action.
The project will be completed by the end of 2014.
The collaboration will enable us to accelerate the manufacturing development of our lead CTX stem cell therapy candidate
The Catapult funding will provide expert knowledge, state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment and services, while ReNeuron will also provide facilities, staff and relevant expertise.
Michael Hunt, CEO of ReNeuron, said: ‘We are delighted to be the first UK cell therapy business to work with the Cell Therapy Catapult. The collaboration will enable us to accelerate the manufacturing development of our lead CTX stem cell therapy candidate as well as tapping into the growing infrastructure, expertise and services that the Cell Therapy Catapult offers.’
Keith Thompson, CEO of the Cell Therapy Catapult, added: ‘This collaboration will enable us to expand our capabilities and expertise, as well as helping ReNeuron advance development of its pipeline, and so fits well with our focus on growing the UK cell therapy sector.’