PHC, CCRM Partner up on Furthering Cell and Gene Therapy Development
The agreement is centered around improving cell culture efficiency and CGT quality.
PHC Corporation—a healthcare company that develops, manufactures, sells, and services solutions across various industries including the life sciences—has signed a master collaboration agreement with the Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM)—a public-private partnership that prioritizes the commercialization of regenerative medicine-based tech—surrounding the design of primary T-cell expansion culture processes.1
The new partnership aims to incorporate PHC’s branded cell expansion system, “LiCellGrow,” with CCRM’s biomanufacturing and deep regenerative medicine knowhow, in order to launch new culture processes that have to potential to bolster cell culture efficiency and quality for cell and gene therapies (CGTs).
When it comes to CGT process development and manufacturing, primary T-cells are a vital component, with CAR-T cell therapy being an example. Nonetheless, PHC executives have noted that primary T-cells that result directly from patients have the chance to present significant variability when it comes to quality and growth rates, which could result in additional challenges for researchers in terms of stable cell counts and quality.
"We are delighted to begin this joint research and development initiative with CCRM, a leader with 14 years of experience in the commercialization of regenerative medicine and CGT,” said Chikara Takauo, director of PHC and head of the biomedical division. “By combining the technologies and expertise of both of our organizations, we aim to advance the manufacturing processes for cell-based therapeutics and cell culture technologies, contributing to the early practical application of CGT."
PHC created its own in-line monitoring tech that is able to track indicators of cell metabolism in real-time, allowing for more precise measurement of glucose uptake and lactate production during cell culture; it also offers a deeper dive into cell metabolism changes over time.
This is where LiCellGrow comes in. The cell expansion system was created as a way to automatically pass media automatically depending on the cells’ metabolic state, while of keeping the culture environment intact.
"We are excited to collaborate with PHC to unlock new possibilities in cell culture,” commented Michael May, president and CEO of CCRM. “Technology development partnerships, like this one, are key to advancing the industry and making CGT more cost effective, and therefore more accessible to patients around the world.”
In other CCRM news, late last year, OmniaBio Inc. (a CCRM subsidiary), opened a new 120,000 square-foot North American CGT manufacturing and artificial intelligence center of excellence in Hamilton, Ontario, which is considered the largest contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) facility dedicated to CGT in Canada.2 The commercial-ready facility is expected to boost the manufacturing efforts, increasing access and affordability to advanced treatments, especially across the North American continent.
“OmniaBio is partnering with clients to make these essential therapies more accessible and affordable for patients in North America and worldwide,” noted Mitchel Sivilotti, OmniBio’s president and CEO. “This new facility puts us in a unique position as a specialist commercial CGT manufacturing leader tackling the toughest disease challenges head-on by combining an experienced team with advanced tools and solutions.”
References
1. PHC and CCRM Collaborate to Develop Primary T-Cell Expansion Culture Processes to Enhance Efficiency and Improve Cell Quality. PHC. February 10, 2025. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.phchd.com/global/phc/news/2025/0210
2. OmniaBio Announces Opening of New Commercial Manufacturing Facility in Canada, Bringing Life-Saving Cell and Gene Therapies to Patients. CCRM. October 17, 2024. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.ccrm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OmniaBio-Grand-Opening-Press-Release-Final-Version.pdf
