Sana Biotechnology will use the iPSC cell lines from Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialise cell therapies
Sana gets license to iPSC technology from FCD. (Credit: Shameer Pk from Pixabay.)
Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics has out-licensed its human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) technology to Sana Biotechnology for the development of commercial cell therapies.
Under the terms license agreement, Sana will be granted a non-exclusive license under intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics.
The firm will receive iPSC cell lines from Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics for the research and development, clinical and commercial manufacture, and commercialisation of cell therapies.
Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics chief executive officer Takeshi Yamamoto said: “Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics is a leading global player in the field of iPSCs.
“Our history in manufacturing iPSCs for research-purposes has provided us with the foundational expertise to manufacture quality GMP-grade iPSC lines.
“Sana is developing a broad and compelling pipeline of iPSC-derived cellular therapies, and we are pleased to grant them the rights to our iPSC platform with a vision of providing more treatment options for patients.”
Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics said that cell therapies, as a treatment modality, are capable of augmenting, repairing, or replacing human biology, including organs, tissues and cells.
Leveraging its expertise in iPSC technologies, the company develops cell therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in areas including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and autoimmune diseases.
Sana is focused on developing and delivering engineered cells as medicines for repairing and controlling genes and replacing missing or damaged cells.
The company has operations in Seattle, Cambridge, and South San Francisco, with around 250 employees.
Sana technical operations executive vice president Stacey Ma said: “Sana is committed to the development of engineered cells as medicines that can be manufactured at scale and supplied to patients globally.
“Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics is a long-standing innovative leader in this field, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to combine their expertise in GMP-grade iPSC cell lines with our investment in differentiating and manufacturing cells at scale for patients across a number of diseases.”