Cytomatrix forms nanofibre joint venture

Melbourne-based stem cell company Cytomatrix has formed a joint venture with Switzerland’s HeiQ Materials to support the commercialisation of a stem cell solution for bone marrow transplants.

The new joint venture, HeiQ Australia, will produce the nanofibre materials required for the manufacturing of Cytomatrix’s 3D off-the-shelf haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) technology.

A new manufacturing facility has been established in Geelong in partnership with Deakin University and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC).

The nanofibre technology forms one of four components in Cytomatrix’s 3D stem cell expansion system. The company expects that the technology will allow stem cells to be produced at sufficient volumes to treat all patients requiring bone marrow transplants for the first time.

As part of the partnership, HeiQ will invest up to $4 million in manufacturing scale-up and research into improved production methods. Cytomatrix will retain an exclusive supply of short nanofibres into pharmaceutical applications.

HeiQ Materials CTO Dr Murray Height will lead the new joint venture.

“This is a superb outcome from the research collaboration between Cytomatrix, the Advanced Manufacturing CRC and Deakin University,” Cytomatrix CSO Associate Professor Mark Kirkland said.

“The short nanofibre technology platform has applications across several pharmaceutical and industrial applications.”