Finance News Network discusses with Cynata CEO Dr Ross Macdonald the Company’s 1H20 results, upcoming Phase 2 clinical trials, licensing and strategy to build the company's Cymerus cell therapy platform
Ed Miseta, Clinical Leader’s Chief Editor, discusses Cynata’s osteoarthritis clinical program and general therapeutic stem cell topics with Cynata’s CEO, Dr Ross Macdonald and COO, Dr Kilian Kelly.
In this interview Ross Macdonald discusses Cynata’s unique approach to the manufacture of therapeutic mesenchymal stem/stromal cells from induced pluripotent stem cells and why this provides the Company with an important competitive advantage.
Source: Licensing Executives Society (LEX) Newsstand - Powered by Lexology
In 2014, Cynata Therapeutics commenced technology transfer and product development, and simultaneously commenced consultation with regulatory authorities regarding the approval pathways for its cellular therapy products.
FUJIFILM Co., Ltd. announced on August 17 that it has signed a license agreement with Cynata Therapeutics in Australia, which develops regenerative medicine products derived from iPS cells. Cynata is conducting clinical trials for products for bone marrow transplant complications. FUJIFILM has acquired the right to monopolise the development and sales of the product. The company wants to commercialise regenerative medicine, which is positioned as a growth area, at an early stage.
FUJIFILM invested about 8% in Cynata and has the right to sign a license agreement for a product for the complication "graft versus host disease (GvHD)". After a certain result was obtained in the Cynata trial, FUJIFILM decided to exercise its rights and take over the trial. The trial is scheduled to begin in 2020 in Japan.
Regarding Cynata, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma announced in July that it had proposed an acquisition for just over 15 billion yen. According to FUJIFILM, GvHD products will be transferred to FUJIFILM under this agreement even if Dainippon Sumitomo acquires Cynata.
Sumitomo Dainippon, on the other hand, commented, “We knew that Fujifilm had this right, but we are considering the acquisition, and we will continue the negotiations.”