In a recent “Activity Report” released by Cynata Therapeutics, the company announced the status of key business activities and partnerships, including a recent collaboration with Harvard Medical School to treat cancer using toxin-secreting stem cells. It has also entered into a collaboration with the University of Sydney that will address myocardial infarction using the therapeutic properties Cynata’s iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
In addition, the company recently announced that their Cymerus™ derived MSCs will be utilized in a clinical trial for GvHD, the first in-patient test of the company’s novel stem cell manufacturing process.
These activities are resulting from Cynata’s proprietary manufacturing platform that can produce unlimited quantities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by deriving them from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) produced from a single donor. This Cymerus™ technology has made Cynata one of the first commercial providers to achieve consistent, scalable, and importantly, cost-effective production of clinical-grade stem cells. The company’s novel manufacturing approach is overcoming a major hurdle that has traditionally limited the therapeutic use of stem cells, which is the “sky high costs” associated with such procedures.
In addition to these activities, company leadership is in active discussions with potential partners interested in acquiring commercial rights to the Cymerus™ technology. In aggregate, this recent activity has gained the attention of life science investors, with a recent placement occurring to U.S. institutional investors in July 2015. The company is also listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX: CYP).
To read the full “Activity Report” issued by Cynata Therapeutics, see below.
October 5, 2015 – Cynata Activity Report
PARTNERING
The Company is in active discussions with a number of potential commercial partners interested in the Cymerus™ technology. Further information will be provided to the market upon effective completion of these discussions. Cynata recently entered into an exciting new collaboration with the world leading researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), part of Harvard Medical School, in the USA. Harvard’s program seeks to investigate the potential utility of Cynata’s mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a novel approach to cancer treatment. It opens up an entirely new dimension in the commercial opportunity for Cynata’s unique Cymerus® technology. The Company also entered into a collaboration with the University of Sydney to test the potential therapeutic efficacy of Cymerus™ MSCs in animal models of myocardial infarction (heart attack). The program is being led by Dr James Chong, a cardiologist at Westmead Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Sydney. Dr Chong has an outstanding record of achievement, including being the author of a publication in the prestigious journal “Nature” investigating the therapeutic efficacy of stem cells in heart tissue regeneration. These high profile research collaborations validate the value of the Cymerus™ technology in the international stem cell community.
INVESTOR ACTIVITIES
Following the placement to US institutional investors in July 2015 Cynata sought to build on US investor interest in the Company. Cynata was selected to present at Rodman & Renshaw’s 17th Annual Global Investment Conference in New York and conducted several days’ of investor meetings around that event. This was aided by a favourable research analysis published by SeeThruEquity, a leading US-based independent equity research and corporate access firm focused on smallcap and microcap public companies. SeeThruEquity initiated their coverage on Cynata with a price target of $1.55 per share. Cynata also felt the strong headwinds that impacted equity markets around the world during August and into September, with some of the bellwether biotech stocks in the US losing 30-40% of their value in a matter of days. Fortunately, the Company has a strengthened balance sheet through the July placement and is well positioned to execute on key upcoming milestones. The Company has also engaged the services of several experts to broaden overall exposure on social media platforms with a particular goal of ensuring that Cynata’s activities are captured while spotlighting the continuing success and excitement around regenerative medicine and stem cell based therapeutics.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Development of Cynata’s lead therapeutic MSC product, CYP-001 continues on schedule and on budget. Several key studies in the pre-clinical program are entering the final stages and their completion in the coming months will represent key milestones toward the clinical application of CYP-001. Meanwhile Cynata’s interaction with regulatory bodies has progressed well. The Company held a successful meeting with the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in September which revealed no particular impediments to the Company proceeding with its planned product development program.