On August 11, 2023 HebeCell Corp (HebeCell), a biotechnology company developing ProtoNK cell therapeutics based on its proprietary 3D PSC-NK manufacture platform, and Logomix Inc (Logomix), a Tokyo-based synthetic biology company, with a platform technology to engineer-in complex genomic messages of ~Mb-scale into human cells, reported a strategic partnership to research and develop gene-edited NK cells and discover genetic modifications that can create next generation designer NK cells (Press release, HebeCell, AUG 11, 2023, View Source [SID1234634291]).
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Under the agreement, the companies enter a strategic partnership where Logomix first provides genome editing capabilities to HebeCell for development of next generation designer protoNK cells. The combination of PSC-based platform with genome editing capabilities will significantly broaden and accelerate new development for screening de novo genetic modifications that enhance the persistence and efficacy of protoNK cells against cancers.
"We know our protoNK cells are strong cytotoxic cells. Our goal is to make PSC-derived protoNK more efficacious in vivo. This collaboration with Logomix will give us a very powerful toolbox to achieve that goal," said John Lu, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at HebeCell Corp. "This collaboration expands our efforts to develop unique NK cell therapies, and has the potential to create something new and never seen before in the NK therapeutic field."
"Logomix’s proprietary technology, Geno-Writing is a genome-writing platform that grants cell therapy developers unprecedented freedom to screen, design and write-in large-scale genomic alterations in human cells. Because our technology allows Mb-scale and scarless modifications, applied to any sequences at either or both alleles, it is an ideal tool to create source of allogeneic cell therapy with desired gene edits," said Taiki Ishikura, CEO at Logomix Inc. "This collaboration with HebeCell demonstrates how our genome engineering technologies can be applied to the field of immuno-oncology and develop the next generation of cell therapy modalities more efficacious and safe to cancer patients."