CDMO MaSTherCell To Manufacture Orgenesis' Cellular Trans-Differentiation Products
By Cyndi Root
Orgenesis announced in a press release that it has made a strategic agreement with Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) MaSTherCell to manufacture its cellular trans-differentiation products. The proprietary process transforms type 1 diabetic patient liver cells into new insulin-producing cells.
MaSTherCell’s location in the Walloon region of Belgium was a major factor in its selection, said Orgenesis’ CEO Jacob BenArie. He said that the area attracts a large biotech talent pool, giving the manufacturer the expertise needed to scale its operations. Mr. BenArie said, “The team at MaSTherCell has the right mix of capabilities, experience, technology and manufacturing processes in place to make it a natural fit for Orgenesis and will give us scalability in our efforts to have a significant impact on Type 1 diabetes.”
MaSTherCell and Orgenesis Agreement
The agreement between MaSTherCell and Orgenesis will begin when the Directorate General operational for Economy, Employment and Research (DGO6) in Belgium, provides funds for the research and manufacturing activities. At MaSTherCell’s facilities in the BioPark in Gosselies, Belgium, the CDMO produces various products for different companies in self-contained suites. Meeting cGMP regulations, the company also has the equipment and warehouse space for Orgenesis’ live cell culture products.
Cellular Trans-Differentiation
Orgenesis has developed a process of cellular trans-differentiation that uses a diabetic patient’s liver cells to generate functional insulin producing autologous cells. The company states that the ideal treatment of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) is beta cell replacement. To meet this ideal treatment, source beta cells must be procured, the immune system must not attack the cells, and the cells should be delivered into an appropriate part of the body to be most effective over blood glucose. Orgenesis says that its cellular technologies can meet these conditions.
About MaSTherCell
MaSTherCell (Manufacturing Synergies for Therapeutic Cells) is a CDMO founded in 2011. Its location in Europe and its cell therapy experts provide clients capabilities in a niche market, which the company calls ‘from bench to market’. The company is currently working on moving from a paper-based process to a digital and paperless environment.