PL BioScience GmbH has announced a significant breakthrough in cell culture technology with the development of the world's first artificial Human Platelet Lysate (HPL), a critical ingredient for cell-based pharmaceutical research and production. The German life science company, in partnership with Korean biotech DewCell Biotherapeutics, has created a fully lab-made alternative to traditional cell culture supplements.
The innovation was unveiled on May 8, 2025, at the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) conference in New Orleans, where Dr. Hatim Hemeda, CEO of PL BioScience, presented the technology.
Advancing Beyond Traditional Cell Culture Methods
Human Platelet Lysate has already established itself as a superior alternative to animal-derived supplements like Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), which is harvested from unborn calves. Natural HPL, derived from donated human blood platelets that are no longer suitable for transfusion, offers improved safety and ethical advantages. However, it still faces supply limitations.
The artificial HPL developed by PL BioScience addresses this challenge by utilizing DewCell's innovative technology to generate artificial platelets from stem cells in a reactor. PL BioScience then transforms these lab-grown platelets into a powerful cell culture supplement through a proprietary method for which a patent has been filed.
"Cell culture innovation is crucial for advancing modern medicine, drug discovery, and understanding complex biological systems," said Dr. Hemeda. "We are proud to contribute to the field with the very first, scalable artificial HPL solution that, in the mid-term, can be produced in a nearly unlimited supply to meet the growing biopharmaceutical industry needs."
Enhanced Performance with Improved Safety
According to PL BioScience, the artificial HPL produced with their proprietary method and additives enhances cell performance compared to natural HPL while further increasing safety and consistency. This advancement is particularly significant for the regenerative medicine and cell therapy sectors, where consistent, high-quality cell culture supplements are essential.
The company's ELAREM™ product line already includes the only globally patented gamma-irradiated HPL product, ELAREM™ Ultimate-FD PLUS, which was launched in April 2025. This GMP-grade product undergoes viral inactivation through a proprietary gamma-irradiation process, adding an extra layer of safety for clinical applications.
Addressing Industry Challenges
The biopharmaceutical industry has long faced challenges with traditional cell culture supplements. FBS raises ethical concerns due to its animal origin and carries potential safety risks including bacterial or viral contamination. While natural HPL offers a human-derived alternative, its reliance on donated blood platelets creates supply constraints as demand grows.
PL BioScience's artificial HPL technology represents a significant step toward resolving these issues by providing a fully scalable source that maintains the benefits of natural HPL while eliminating supply limitations.
Applications in Regenerative Medicine
The artificial HPL technology has broad applications across cell therapy, regenerative medicine, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. It provides essential growth factors and nutrients that promote healthy cell proliferation without the risks associated with animal-derived products.
For cell therapy developers, this innovation offers a path to more consistent manufacturing processes with reduced regulatory concerns. The fully synthetic nature of the product also addresses supply chain stability issues that have challenged the industry.
Future Outlook
The development of artificial HPL signals a potential paradigm shift in cell culture technology. By combining DewCell's artificial platelet technology with PL BioScience's cell culture expertise, the companies aim to establish a new standard in the field.
"We are confident that the combination of DewCell's innovative technology and our cell culture expertise will usher in a new era in the field of regenerative medicine and cell therapy manufacturing," Dr. Hemeda stated.
As the biopharmaceutical industry continues to grow, particularly in advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), innovations like artificial HPL will play a crucial role in enabling scalable, consistent, and safe manufacturing processes that can meet increasing global demand.
