Orthocell acquires IP and a new chairman

Regenerative medicine company Orthocell has acquired key pieces of intellectual property (IP) from its research partners at The University of Western Australia (UWA). The IP relates to the manufacture of Ortho-ATI - Orthocell’s tendon stem cell treatment for degenerated tendon tissue - and the Celgro collagen platform technology, which helps repair soft tissue damage.

The IP has been successfully translated from concept and proof-of-concept phase into human clinical trials for both products, with Ortho-ATI now available commercially. The IP had previously been licensed to Orthocell by UWA, but the company has since paid a fee to acquire it. The university will also receive royalties for product sales.

“The transfer of this IP from The University of Western Australia to Orthocell is a great example of successful commercialisation of university IP,” Orthocell Managing Director Paul Anderson said.

“It’s definitely a ‘win-win’ for the university and for Orthocell, and another great example of technology transfer creating impact for patients as well as a dozen or more jobs in Perth,” added UWA Associate Director Research Development and Innovation Simon Handford.

Orthocell has meanwhile welcomed the appointment of Dr Stewart Washer to its board as chairman. Dr Washer has 20 years of CEO and board experience, currently serving as chairman of both Cynata Therapeutics, which is developing stem cell therapies, and Minomic International, which has an accurate non-invasive test for prostate cancer.

“He will be a tremendous asset in communicating the Orthocell story to the market and assisting with our planned business development activities internationally,” Anderson said.