MaxCyte signs cell platform deal with CRISPR and Casebia

CRISPR Therapeutics, a Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company focussed on creating transformative gene-based medicines for serious diseases, and Casebia Therapeutics, a joint-venture established by CRISPR Therapeutics and Bayer for developing CRISPR-based therapeutics in select disease areas, announced on Tuesday that they had signed a joint commercial license agreement with MaxCyte.

MaxCyte is a US-based and London-listed global company dedicated to accelerating the discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of next-generation, cell-based medicines.

The commercial license reportedly built on an existing research and clinical licensing agreement for select disease areas.

Under the terms of the license, CRISPR Therapeutics and Casebia will obtain non-exclusive commercial-use rights to MaxCyte's cell engineering platform to develop CRISPR/Cas9-based therapies for hemoglobin-related diseases and severe combined immunodeficiency.

MaxCyte will supply its systems to CRISPR Therapeutics and Casebia as part of the license agreement and will receive upfront, milestone, and sales-based payments.

“As we advance CRISPR Therapeutics' lead programs in hemoglobinopathies to the clinic, it is important we prepare for the future by securing our access to the leading ex vivo delivery solution for both clinical and commercial use," said CRISPR Therapeutics chief business officer Samarth Kulkarni.

MaxCyte's ‘Flow Electroporation’ technology would enable the transfection of a variety of cell types at very high efficiency while maintaining very high viability, that company’s board explained.

CRISPR Therapeutics and Casebia's lead programs were reliant on ex-vivo gene editing, where the CRISPR components were delivered to hematopoietic stem cells using the MaxCyte technology.

“With Casebia and CRISPR Therapeutics working closely together, we hope to make bold investments and accelerate our efforts to access and acquire all the leading platform technologies necessary to develop and commercialize CRISPR-based therapeutics," said Casebia CEO and president Jim Burns.

MaxCyte president and CEO, Doug Doerfler, explained that the initiation of the commercial license agreement with CRISPR and Casebia marked a “very important” milestone for the company in executing its business strategy.

“[This deal]] demonstrates the value of our platform and our intellectual property, as well as our ability to collaborate effectively with companies commercializing cell therapies.”