Orgenesis strikes deal to develop 3D printing for cellular structures and tissues

Orgenesis Inc (NASDAQ:ORGS), a developer of advanced cell therapies, has struck up a collaboration agreement with Digilab Inc to develop a live cell printing process and systems to automate the production of three-dimensional live cellular structures and tissues.

The systems will take advantage of Digilab’s synQUAD liquid dispensing technology which offers cell printing while protecting the most delicate cells.

“We are excited to partner with Digilab to co-develop and market this next generation cell printer capability, which will have the ability to not only dispense cells, but for the first time, assemble living cells within a three-dimensional matrix,” said Vered Caplan, CEO of Orgenesis, in a statement.

READ: Orgenesis subsidiary MaSTherCell Global to build new facility in Belgium for cell and gene therapy manufacturing

Under the deal’s terms, Orgenesis will hold onto the exclusive rights to use and distribute the new cell printer systems.

Digilab’s technology allows for the printing of both viscous solutions and fragile cells. And the process being co-developed by Orgenesis and Digilab will provide solutions for culturing and printing a variety of cells, with an initial focus on liver and liver-derived cells.

Orgenesis CEO Vered Caplan notes that the technology holds potential for “very broad” uses, including stem cell applications, cell culturing and tissue engineering.

READ: Orgenesis leads the charge at an exciting time for cell therapy

“Our goal is to utilize this technology that has the potential to transform the cell therapeutics service industry by automating the process for production of complex cell structures and full organs,” explained Caplan. “In our preliminary trials with Digilab, we were able to print liver cells from our cell bank in the CellJet, proving the potential feasibility of this technology.

Based in Germantown, Maryland, Orgenesis is a biopharmaceutical company with expertise in developing advanced cell therapies and manufacturing.

On the manufacturing side, the company’s subsidiary MaSTherCell Global helps companies shorten lead times and lower costs in getting cell therapies and products to the market.

On the technology side, the company’s subsidiary Orgenesis is a pioneer in transdifferentiation, which simply means cell reprograming. 

Orgenesis shares slipped $0.20 to hit $4.95 in midday trade Thursday.

Contact Ellen Kelleher at [email protected]

Story by ProactiveInvestors