Cesca Therapeutics is making big moves to become a player in the CAR-T space. In recent months it filed a a patent application for innovation to its CAR-TXpress™ technology, signed a license agreement with China’s IncoCell Tianjin Ltd. for CAR-T related CDMO services in Asia, and is continuing development of Thermogenesis’ novel CAR-TXpress platform.
The company also recently announced the launch of its 2nd gen AXP® II system for isolating and collecting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood. Since the launch of its first AXP® system, Cesca has been a leader is cord blood processing technologies.
As stated in its recent “Financial Results for the Transition Period July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017”:
- On March 19, 2018, Cesca’s ThermoGenesis device subsidiary filed a new patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an innovation to its CAR-TXpress™ technology which will allow for the simultaneous purification and activation of T-cells, thereby simplifying the CAR-TXpress workflow and tangibly accelerating the CAR-T cell manufacturing process.
- Also on March 19, the Company announced that ThermoGenesis signed an exclusive license agreement with China-based IncoCell Tianjin Ltd. for CAR-T related contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services covering the Asia Pacific region.
- On February 26, 2018, the Company announced the commercial launch of its second-generation AXP® II system for the advanced isolation, collection and storage of hematopoietic stem cell concentrates from both cord blood and peripheral blood.
- On December 1, 2017, the Company raised net proceeds of $2.7 million through a follow-on offering of 898,402 shares of common stock.
- The Company continued to advance development of ThermoGenesis’ novel CAR-TXpress platform, aimed at addressing the urgent need for automation of the CAR-T cell manufacturing process.
- The Company bolstered its intellectual property position with the issuance of a second patent (No. 9,821,111) related to its Buoyancy-Activated Cell Separation, or X-BACS™, cell separation technology. On July 28, 2017, the Company announced that SynGen, which the Company acquired on July 10, 2017, had been awarded U.S. patent No. 9,695,394 covering the X-BACS apparatus. The X-BACS technology is key to the ongoing development of CAR-TXpress
- The Company has continued to pursue active discussions with leading developers and others in the CAR-T space, for potential collaboration and co-development opportunities