Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading partner to the biopharmaceutical industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkeley-based Nanotein Technologies to advance cell therapy manufacturing capabilities. The collaboration centers on Nanotein's innovative NanoSpark® platform, which addresses critical challenges in immune cell activation and expansion for therapeutic applications.
Strategic Investment and Distribution Agreement
Under the terms of the partnership announced on August 11, 2025, Sartorius Stedim Biotech will invest up to $3 million in a minority shareholding in Nanotein Technologies. This investment supports the commercialization and joint development of solutions based on the NanoSpark® platform, positioning both companies to capitalize on the rapidly expanding cell and gene therapy markets.
The exclusive global distribution agreement grants Sartorius worldwide rights to offer Nanotein's lead products: the NanoSpark® STEM-T Soluble T Cell Activator and NanoSpark® GROW-NK Soluble Activator. These reagents are specifically designed to enhance the expansion and quantity of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, two key immune cell types used in CAR-T and NK-based cancer therapies.
Addressing Manufacturing Challenges
Cell therapy manufacturing faces significant obstacles, including reliance on feeder cells and inconsistent yields during the immune cell activation process. Curtis Hodge, Co-Founder and CEO of Nanotein Technologies, explained that "Nanotein's soluble activators are designed to improve cell therapy expansion by enhancing the quality and quantity of T cells and providing a feeder-free soluble activator for NK cell activation and expansion, addressing critical challenges in the manufacturing process."
The NanoSpark® technology represents a breakthrough in immune cell activation methodology. The platform utilizes a fully soluble protein scaffold with specific, functional antibodies bound through high-affinity non-covalent interactions. This creates a highly effective protein-antibody product with optimal geometry that takes advantage of receptor clustering biology to stimulate immune cell expansion with multipotent qualities during ex vivo activation.
Enhanced Performance and Clinical Impact
NanoSpark® products demonstrate differentiated performance compared to traditional activation methods, generating higher yields of healthier and therapeutically functional immune cells for advanced therapy applications. This improvement in cell quality and quantity is crucial for the success of cell-based therapies, where the effectiveness of treatment often depends on the number and functionality of infused cells.
René Fáber, CEO of Sartorius Stedim Biotech, emphasized the partnership's value proposition: "This partnership will provide our customers with access to some of the most promising new tools for simplifying workflows and thus improving immune cell manufacturing. Together with Nanotein, we're enabling cell therapy manufacturers to innovate with greater speed and confidence - from early process development to the clinic."
Commercial Timeline and Future Development
Nanotein Technologies currently offers research-use-only STEM-T and GROW-NK products, with significant commercial milestones planned for the near future. The company expects to launch cGMP grade STEM-T in late 2025, followed by GROW-NK in 2026, marking important steps toward clinical and commercial applications.
Beyond the immediate distribution agreement, Sartorius Stedim Biotech and Nanotein Technologies plan to collaborate on developing additional novel product offerings using the NanoSpark® platform. This joint development effort aims to address the evolving needs of the cell and gene therapy markets, which continue to expand rapidly as more therapeutic applications reach clinical development and commercialization.
Market Context and Company Profiles
Nanotein Technologies operates as a Series-B biotechnology startup focused on manufacturing next-generation reagents for cell therapy applications. The Berkeley-based company has positioned itself at the forefront of immune cell activation technology, addressing fundamental challenges in cell therapy manufacturing.
Sartorius Stedim Biotech, headquartered in Aubagne, France, serves as a leading international partner to the biopharmaceutical industry. The company helps customers manufacture biotech medications, including cell and gene therapies, more safely, rapidly, and sustainably. With shares listed on Euronext Paris, Sartorius Stedim Biotech maintains a strong global presence through manufacturing and R&D sites across Europe, North America, and Asia. In 2024, the company generated sales revenue of approximately 2.8 billion euros with more than 9,900 employees serving customers worldwide.
