Bone Therapeutics signs research partnership with Implant Therapeutics to access induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)

Bone Therapeutics has developed a cutting-edge bone marrow-derived off-the-shelf, allogeneic MSC cell therapy platform. Its allogeneic cell therapy product, ALLOB, currently in clinical trials for different orthopedic indications, has resulted from this platform. Bone Therapeutics is now utilizing its expertise to broader clinical indications of high unmet medical need as previously communicated. To achieve this strategic aim, it is now expanding its sources of MSCs from those derived from bone marrow and implementing genetic modification of MSCs to achieve higher therapeutic efficacy.
 
Bone Therapeutics has partnered with Implant Therapeutics to gain access to iPSC derived, genetically engineered MSCs. These specific single source MSCs are highly standardized, are expandable and scalable. They are also more flexible with regards to modification methodologies, including gene editing and transduction, than existing autologous and allogeneic approaches. This specific agreement is set to last twelve months, and be focused on achieving early-stage research and product design and testing. Bone Therapeutics will initially perform technology evaluation, product design and optimization of these iPSC derived MSCs. Bone Therapeutics and Implant Therapeutics will discuss an agreement covering commercial R&D and commercialization stages of development as required.
 
Bone Therapeutics will, in parallel, continue to research and evaluate a number of genes that are of interest as well as genetic modification technologies and methodologies. This separate activity will be undertaken to enhance the functionality and efficacy of MSCs for specific indications.

“Unmodified MSC-based products have already generated positive efficacy signals across the industry. Bone Therapeutics believes that greater efficacy can be further achieved by professionalizing and tailoring the functionality of the cells for each indication, as Bone Therapeutics has already achieved for ALLOB,” said Tony Ting, CSO, Bone Therapeutics. “To address further, life-threatening indications with high levels of mortality and a significant unmet medical need, it will be essential to genetically engineer MSCs. This will give these cells the ammunition they need to tackle difficult diseases. The agreement with Implant Therapeutics allows Bone Therapeutics to access specific and advantageous iPSC derived MSCs and utilize its iPSC expertise, including that of Mahendra Rao, a renowned world-class expert in the field. His expertise, knowhow and support are highly valuable components and a key motivation behind this collaboration.”

“Implant Therapeutics has acquired technologies and considerable specialist knowledge to build our portfolio of iPSC derived MSCs. This expertise will be of specific use to Bone Therapeutics as it utilises our iPSC derived MSCs to expand its indications,” said Dr. Mahendra Rao, founder, Implant Therapeutics. “We will continue to work with Bone Therapeutics as it develops and integrates these iPSC derived MSCs to address significant unmet medical needs.”