GAITHERSBURG, Md., and YOKOHAMA, Japan, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- MaxCyte, Inc. and Medinet Co., Ltd. announce a joint poster presentation at the 13th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Cellular Therapy. The meeting is being held June 24-27, 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
The presentation is entitled “Electroloading of mature dendritic cells with tumor lysate triggers robust antigen-specific CTL response” and will discuss the findings of a study that combined MaxCyte’s technologies and Medinet’s novel immuno-cell therapy technologies to produce more potent cancer vaccines. The session is scheduled for Monday, June 25 from 6:30-10:30 p.m.
The study was performed under a collaboration agreement in which MaxCyte optimized its proprietary cell loading technology for the development of Medinet’s novel cancer immuno-cell therapy service for implementation in a closed-system, cGMP manufacturing process at Medinet’s cell processing centers in Japan.
The presentation will discuss the development of a robust, scalable, cGMP compliant manufacturing process and the resulting production of dendritic cell (DC) vaccines with enhanced potency as demonstrated by higher antigen-specific T cell stimulation compared to current manufacturing processes. Final immunotherapeutic product exhibited high (>95%) cell viability and purity and showed characteristic DC immunophenotype as detected by increased expression of HLA class I, HLA class II, and co-stimulatory molecules. Compared with current manufacturing processes, this engineered DC product required less antigen but achieved substantially higher antigen loading per cell. The engineered DC vaccine elicited increased frequency of antigenpeptide-specific T cells in a 7 day in vitro stimulated culture, in direct head-to-head comparison with current manufacturing processes. The developed manufacturing methodology uses MaxCyte’s proprietary platform technologies that have been described in a Master File with CBER, United States FDA and been cross- referenced in multiple clinical studies, and Medinet’s technology and know-how derived from its world-leading experience in autologous cell processing resulting from marketed therapies that have been administered to over 6,000 cancer patients at Medinet’s network of Contracted Medical Institutions since 1999.
About MaxCyte
MaxCyte is a clinical-stage cell therapeutics company with a rapidly growing pipeline of product development partnerships in cell-based therapies. The Company’s proprietary ex vivo cell loading technology overcomes critical obstacles such as safety, scalability and reproducibility which are fundamental to commercializing successful cell-based therapies. MaxCyte has demonstrated the value of its versatile technology in partnered therapeutic programs in oncology, pulmonary, metabolic and infectious diseases as well as in development collaborations with leading researchers. Current clinical programs with MaxCyte-engineered cells include: a Phase I/II clinical study for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and a Phase IIa study using engineered stem cells for the treatment of primary Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). In addition there are advanced preclinical programs in oncology and regenerative medicine. More than 16 commercial and academic partners are currently using the MaxCyte technology. The MaxCyte system has an FDA Master File in place at CBER.
For more information, visit http://www.maxcyte.com.
About Medinet
Medinet is a world leading company in cell therapy supporting medical service providers in Japan. Through its service, Medinet provides medical institutions with advanced technologies and knowhow in: cell processing and culturing, quality control, and facility management with respect to the immuno-cell therapy. Medinet has extensive experience in autologous cell processing that corresponds to treatment for over 6,000 cancer patients in actual clinical practice. Medinet continues to invest in R&D to improve cell processing technologies in an effort to increase efficacy in collaborative clinical studies with university hospitals and medical institutions. Medinet went public in October 2003 on the MOTHERS, Tokyo Stock Exchange.
For more information, visit http://www.medinet-inc.co.jp/english/.
This press release may contain, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect management’s current views and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and uncertainties.
MaxCyte, Inc.
CONTACT: Anthony Recupero, Ph.D., Vice President Business Development, ofMaxCyte, Inc., +1-301-944-1700; or Kunihiko Suzuki, General Manager,Corporate Strategy & Planning Department, of Medinet Co., Ltd.,+81(45)478-0046
