Elixirgen Scientific and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America Announce a Cell Supply Agreement for the Manufacturing of Human iPSC-Derived CNS Cell Types
Baltimore-based biotechnology leader, Elixirgen Scientific, Inc. signs an agreement with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. to supply human iPSC-derived neurons and glial cells, strengthening commitment to innovation and collaboration in drug discovery.
Baltimore, MD, & Jersey City, NJ, USA (July 24, 2024) – Elixirgen Scientific, Inc., a biotechnology leader focused on advancing drug discovery and revolutionizing cell therapy through iPSC technology, announced today that it reached an agreement with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) for the differentiation and manufacturing of human iPSC-derived neurons and glial cells. This strategic collaboration aims to harness the transformative power of iPSC technology to meet the increasing demand for and hard-to-obtain human CNS cell-based models for neurological disorders.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are reprogrammed from adult cells to an embryonic-like state, enabling them to differentiate into any cell type in the body. This versatility makes iPSC-derived cells highly advantageous for research and therapeutic applications. They offer the potential to create patient-specific cell lines, produce rare cell types at scale, and effectively recapitulate disease phenotypes in vitro, providing invaluable insights for disease modeling and drug development.
Under the terms of the agreement, Elixirgen Scientific will leverage its proprietary Quick-Tissue™ technology to produce high-quality human cell types, providing MTPA with a reliable and scalable source of cells for their pioneering research and therapeutic development efforts. This collaboration highlights Elixirgen Scientific’s commitment to quality, and innovation in the development of cutting-edge discoveries and therapies.
"This agreement marks a significant milestone in our mission to drive forward the development of cutting-edge therapies for neurological diseases. Working with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America allows us to expand the reach of our iPSC-derived products and support groundbreaking research that could lead to life-changing treatments for patients worldwide."
"The advancement of drug development through the utilization of human induced pluripotent stem cells is poised to significantly impact the field of central nervous system research, addressing the critical need for highly predictive disease models. Elixirgen's differentiation technology is anticipated to greatly enhance drug development efforts by facilitating the establishment of robust and stable disease models."
The collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of novel therapies for neurodegenerative disease. By combining Elixirgen Scientific’s state-of-the-art iPSC technology with MTPA’s expertise in drug discovery and development, the two companies aim to bring innovative solutions to market more efficiently and effectively.
About Elixirgen Scientific
Elixirgen Scientific, headquartered in the Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, is at the forefront of leveraging stem cell-based technologies to accelerate scientific discovery and the development of cures for a broad spectrum of diseases. Elixirgen’s products and services, including the revolutionary Quick-Tissue™ and Quick-Glia™ series, have positioned it as a premier partner in the global scientific community, committed to advancing human health through scientific excellence. For more information, please visit www.ElixirgenSci.com.
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America
Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). It was established by MTPC to develop and advance our pipeline as well as commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), the pharma arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, founded in 1678. MTPC is headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. MCG has positioned health care as its strategic focus in its management policy, “Forging the future”. MTPC sets the MISSION of “Creating hope for all facing illness”. To that end, MTPC is working on the disease areas of the central nervous system, immuno-inflammation, diabetes and kidney, and cancer. MTPC is focusing on “precision medicine” to provide drugs with high treatment satisfaction and additionally working to develop “around the pill solutions” to address specific patient concerns based on therapeutic medicine, including prevention of diseases, pre-symptomatic disease care, prevention of aggravation and prognosis. For more information, go to www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e.
