FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics in Agreement with Sana Biotechnology to Develop iPSC-Derived Cell Therapies

FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics announced on March 17, 2021 that Sana Biotechnology, a US-based biotechnology company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells, has been granted a non-exclusive right to use FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics’ induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform for the development of commercial cell therapies.

Under the terms of the agreement, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics will provide Sana with iPSC cell lines while maintaining intellectual property rights, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics said in a company press release. Sana will be authorized to use the iPSC cell lines for the research and development, clinical and commercial manufacture, and commercialization, of the cell therapies derived from the lines.

“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,” said Takeshi Yamamoto, CEO, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, in the press release. “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.”

“Sana is committed to the development of engineered cells as medicines that can be manufactured at scale and supplied to patients globally,” added Stacey Ma, executive vice-president, technical operations, Sana, in the press release. “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.”

Source: FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics