BrightPath Bio and Cellistic have entered a process development and manufacturing agreement to progress the allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform of the former into clinical trials.
The partnership is set to leverage Cellistic’s 3D bioreactor-based manufacturing platform, Echo, to produce induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting CAR-natural killer T (NKT) cells for Phase I trials of multiple myeloma.
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It also enables BrightPath to make use of Cellistic’s development and manufacturing capabilities, potentially accelerating the development of its BCMA CAR-NKT product.
Both companies have expressed their commitment to advancing healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes.
BrightPath CEO Ken Nagai said: “The use of NKT cells as effectors in allogeneic CAR-T therapy represents a promising strategy, offering not only direct cytotoxicity but also indirect anti-tumour activity through the priming of host CD8+ T cells—a mechanism expected to evade host immune rejection and to enhance the durability of clinical responses.
“However, achieving clinical-scale manufacturing of such a rare subset of T cells while preserving their original functionality has conventionally been a significant challenge. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology has overcome this barrier, making large-scale production feasible.”
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By GlobalDataCellistic, with its ‘expertise’ in iPSC reprogramming, gene editing with STAR-CRISPR technology, and differentiation development, is a preferred partner for cell therapy developers aiming to enter clinical stages.
The company’s Pulse and Echo Platform is at the forefront of the process development and manufacturing of immune cell therapies.
Cellistic CEO Gustavo Mahler said: “We are excited to partner with BrightPath in the development of their revolutionary iPSC-derived cell therapy.
“Our Echo manufacturing platform is designed to meet the unique challenges of cell therapy production, ensuring scalability, quality, and regulatory compliance. Together, we can advance the therapeutic potential of BCMA CAR-NKT cells and help BrightPath to bring innovative solutions to patients in need.”
BrightPath is actively engaged in developing cancer immunotherapies. The company focuses on treating refractory or progressive cancers that are unresponsive to standard therapies.
Cell & Gene therapy coverage on Clinical Trials Arena is supported by Cytiva.
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