CellProthera, a French regenerative cell therapy developer specializing in ischemic diseases, has announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with CELLforCURE by SEQENS for the Phase 3 clinical trial of its lead therapy, ProtheraCytes. The collaboration marks a significant step forward in bringing this innovative stem cell treatment for severe heart attack patients closer to market.
Partnership Details and Timeline
The Mulhouse, France-based CellProthera will transfer its technology to CELLforCURE by SEQENS during 2025, with production of clinical batches scheduled to begin in 2026. This manufacturing agreement is a critical prerequisite for initiating the planned Phase 3 trial of ProtheraCytes.
"Having a partner with expertise in advanced stage of clinical development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies adds substantial value for CellProthera as we enter the final phase of development for ProtheraCytes, looking at Phase 3 and through to market authorization," said Matthieu De Kalbermatten, CEO of CellProthera.
Jean-Olivier Hirsch, Chief Operating Officer and Qualified Person of CellProthera, explained the selection criteria: "We selected CELLforCURE by SEQENS for the quality of its infrastructure, its equipment and the expertise of its team, who has already demonstrated its ability to release commercial batches of autologous therapies."
ProtheraCytes: Innovative Cardiac Regeneration Therapy
ProtheraCytes is an autologous expanded CD34+ stem cell-based therapy designed to improve heart failure event-free survival following severe myocardial infarction. The therapy has been registered as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
The treatment leverages CellProthera's proprietary GMP-compliant cell expansion process and automation technology for the in vitro production of purified, expanded CD34+ stem cells. This platform includes an automated expansion device called StemXpand and its single-use kit StemPack.
Advancing to Late-Stage Clinical Development
CellProthera's decision to move forward with Phase 3 preparations follows promising results from its Phase 1/2b study. Last year, the company presented its Phase 3 trial design to the FDA and received favorable feedback, paving the way for this next critical development stage.
Marc-Olivier Mignon, President of CELLforCURE by SEQENS, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: "We look forward to supporting CellProthera at this critical juncture for ProtheraCytes' development. Our ability to embrace innovative technologies and scale up production for late-stage clinical trials will help accelerate the investigation of potential new therapies."
Manufacturing Capabilities and Requirements
The tech transfer and qualification of the bioproduction process in a specialized facility capable of releasing clinical batches of cellular products represents an essential step before Phase 3 can commence. CELLforCURE by SEQENS, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) authorized by the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), specializes in ATMP production from concept to commercialization.
The CDMO offers advanced technologies, extensive capabilities, and large-scale capacity for a wide range of cell therapies. As part of the SEQENS Group, which leverages 3,300 employees across 16 manufacturing sites and 9 R&D centers in 9 countries, CELLforCURE brings substantial resources and expertise to this partnership.
Potential Impact on Cardiac Care
Heart attacks remain a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with many survivors facing the risk of heart failure and reduced quality of life. ProtheraCytes represents a potential breakthrough in cardiac regenerative medicine, aiming to address the significant unmet need for therapies that can repair damaged heart tissue following severe myocardial infarction.
If successful in Phase 3 trials, this stem cell therapy could offer a new treatment paradigm for patients who have suffered severe heart attacks, potentially reducing the burden of heart failure and improving long-term outcomes.
