Bone Marrow Transplant Technology Commercialisation Advances With Cytomatrix Deal
Melbourne, Australia: Australian stem cell company Cytomatrix has formed a Joint Venture (JV) with Swiss company HeiQ Materials AG that will underpin the manufacturing and scalability of its world first 3D off the shelf haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) solution for bone marrow transplantations.
As part of the JV, a new company called HeiQ Australia has been formed and a manufacturing facility established in Geelong, Australia, in partnership with Deakin University and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC). This facility will produce the short nanofibre materials required to produce and scale up Cytomatrix’s stem cell technology.
Cytomatrix uses the short nanofibre technology as one of four technology components in its 3D stem cell expansion system which will allow, for the first time, stem cells to be produced at volumes sufficient to treat all patients who require bone marrow transplants. Currently, most adults are unable to have this life saving treatment.
HeiQ is a major international functional materials company with the manufacturing expertise to produce the short nanofibres at a commercial scale. HeiQ will invest up to $4m in manufacturing plant scale-up and research into improved manufacturing methods for the short nanofibres, providing a valuable investment at this critical time for the company. As part of the deal terms, Cytomatrix retains an exclusive supply of short nanofibres into pharmaceutical applications, via HeiQ Australia, to commercialise the short nanofibres into other markets.
Cytomatrix CSO Associate Professor Mark Kirkland and has been working closely with HeiQ Materials AG CEO Mr. Carlo Centonze on the partnership. HeiQ Materials AG Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Murray Height, who recently returned to Australia from 10 years in Switzerland, will lead the new JV.
“This is a superb outcome from the research collaboration between Cytomatrix, the Advanced Manufacturing CRC and Deakin University. The short nanofibre technology platform has applications across several pharmaceutical and industrial applications and we are pleased to enter into this long term commercial and research agreement with HeiQ Materials AG, an entrepreneurial and rapidly growing business with the same focus on growth that we have,” said Assoc. Professor Kirkland.
“We have today secured a manufacturing partner which further de-risks the Cytomatrix business. The joint venture gives HeiQ Materials access to the short nanofibre technology developed over the past three years between Cytomatrix and Deakin University and will allow us to manufacture our stem cell technology at commercial levels.” This JV is a ground-breaking example of global collaboration and manufacturing innovation. As part of the transaction, Cytomatrix has a 50% holding in HeiQ Australia, and has swapped shares for a 10% stake in HeiQ Materials AG, valuing the JV at close to $12m.
Dr Murray Height, the CEO of HeiQ Australia said: “HeiQ Australia will scale-up, industrialise and commercialise the process developed to date by Cytomatrix and Deakin University, and will actively position short nanofibre materials in several market niches.”
“This technology provides functionality into many applications, and we already have commercial interest, beyond the supply agreements back to HeiQ Materials and Cytomatrix, for large scale volume supply of short nanofibres, which will translate into high technology jobs in Geelong”.
Bob Atwill CEO of Cytomatrix added: “Over the past six months Cytomatrix has substantially strengthened its commercial foundations with the signing of term sheets with a US based bioreactor company, a multi-billion dollar global healthcare company and has now executed its first corporate transaction with HeiQ. We are well on the way to building a market leading business in the 3D expansion and use of HSCs.”
About Cytomatrix’s technology
Cytomatrix Pty. Ltd. is a privately held, Australian, development stage company with short nanofibre and scaffold technologies which have been developed to support the rapid and economic expansion of Haematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) for therapeutic use in a variety of bone marrow and chemotherapy related applications. The company was founded in 2007 by Associate Professor Mark Kirkland, who is also the Medical Director of the successful cord blood banking business Cell Care and Associate Professor at Deakin University. The global market across cord blood transplant, bone marrow transplants and high dose chemotherapy patients is estimated to be in excess of US$4 billion.
About HeiQ Materials (Switzerland)
HeiQ Materials AG was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich). HeiQ is a leading specialty chemicals company, which develops, manufactures and markets performance effects for high-tech applications in textiles (e.g. Stay fresh apparel, thermal control sportswear, stay-dry outdoor clothing etc.). HeiQ’s technologies enable textiles to achieve higher levels of performance and comfort. HeiQ has built-up a dedicated manufacturing facility in Switzerland producing innovative textile treatment products for the global market. It has achieved success by providing its customers with comprehensive support, breakthrough innovation and brand differentiation. HeiQ is a winner of many awards for innovation and entrepreneurship including the prestigious Swiss Technology Award and is backed by high quality investors such as Credit Suisse.
For further information please contact:
Media and investor relations
Brianna McFarlane
bmcfarlane@buchanwe.com.au
+613 9866 4722
Company
Bob Atwill
bob.atwill@cytomatrix.com.au
+61 448 778880
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
As part of the JV, a new company called HeiQ Australia has been formed and a manufacturing facility established in Geelong, Australia, in partnership with Deakin University and the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC). This facility will produce the short nanofibre materials required to produce and scale up Cytomatrix’s stem cell technology.
Cytomatrix uses the short nanofibre technology as one of four technology components in its 3D stem cell expansion system which will allow, for the first time, stem cells to be produced at volumes sufficient to treat all patients who require bone marrow transplants. Currently, most adults are unable to have this life saving treatment.
HeiQ is a major international functional materials company with the manufacturing expertise to produce the short nanofibres at a commercial scale. HeiQ will invest up to $4m in manufacturing plant scale-up and research into improved manufacturing methods for the short nanofibres, providing a valuable investment at this critical time for the company. As part of the deal terms, Cytomatrix retains an exclusive supply of short nanofibres into pharmaceutical applications, via HeiQ Australia, to commercialise the short nanofibres into other markets.
Cytomatrix CSO Associate Professor Mark Kirkland and has been working closely with HeiQ Materials AG CEO Mr. Carlo Centonze on the partnership. HeiQ Materials AG Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Murray Height, who recently returned to Australia from 10 years in Switzerland, will lead the new JV.
“This is a superb outcome from the research collaboration between Cytomatrix, the Advanced Manufacturing CRC and Deakin University. The short nanofibre technology platform has applications across several pharmaceutical and industrial applications and we are pleased to enter into this long term commercial and research agreement with HeiQ Materials AG, an entrepreneurial and rapidly growing business with the same focus on growth that we have,” said Assoc. Professor Kirkland.
“We have today secured a manufacturing partner which further de-risks the Cytomatrix business. The joint venture gives HeiQ Materials access to the short nanofibre technology developed over the past three years between Cytomatrix and Deakin University and will allow us to manufacture our stem cell technology at commercial levels.” This JV is a ground-breaking example of global collaboration and manufacturing innovation. As part of the transaction, Cytomatrix has a 50% holding in HeiQ Australia, and has swapped shares for a 10% stake in HeiQ Materials AG, valuing the JV at close to $12m.
Dr Murray Height, the CEO of HeiQ Australia said: “HeiQ Australia will scale-up, industrialise and commercialise the process developed to date by Cytomatrix and Deakin University, and will actively position short nanofibre materials in several market niches.”
“This technology provides functionality into many applications, and we already have commercial interest, beyond the supply agreements back to HeiQ Materials and Cytomatrix, for large scale volume supply of short nanofibres, which will translate into high technology jobs in Geelong”.
Bob Atwill CEO of Cytomatrix added: “Over the past six months Cytomatrix has substantially strengthened its commercial foundations with the signing of term sheets with a US based bioreactor company, a multi-billion dollar global healthcare company and has now executed its first corporate transaction with HeiQ. We are well on the way to building a market leading business in the 3D expansion and use of HSCs.”
About Cytomatrix’s technology
Cytomatrix Pty. Ltd. is a privately held, Australian, development stage company with short nanofibre and scaffold technologies which have been developed to support the rapid and economic expansion of Haematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) for therapeutic use in a variety of bone marrow and chemotherapy related applications. The company was founded in 2007 by Associate Professor Mark Kirkland, who is also the Medical Director of the successful cord blood banking business Cell Care and Associate Professor at Deakin University. The global market across cord blood transplant, bone marrow transplants and high dose chemotherapy patients is estimated to be in excess of US$4 billion.
About HeiQ Materials (Switzerland)
HeiQ Materials AG was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich). HeiQ is a leading specialty chemicals company, which develops, manufactures and markets performance effects for high-tech applications in textiles (e.g. Stay fresh apparel, thermal control sportswear, stay-dry outdoor clothing etc.). HeiQ’s technologies enable textiles to achieve higher levels of performance and comfort. HeiQ has built-up a dedicated manufacturing facility in Switzerland producing innovative textile treatment products for the global market. It has achieved success by providing its customers with comprehensive support, breakthrough innovation and brand differentiation. HeiQ is a winner of many awards for innovation and entrepreneurship including the prestigious Swiss Technology Award and is backed by high quality investors such as Credit Suisse.
For further information please contact:
Media and investor relations
Brianna McFarlane
bmcfarlane@buchanwe.com.au
+613 9866 4722
Company
Bob Atwill
bob.atwill@cytomatrix.com.au
+61 448 778880
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.