Sweden Launches Initiative to Establish Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Research – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Sweden aims to establish a new Center for Advanced Medical Products (CAMP) as part of a SEK 320-million ($36.6-million), 8-year Swedish government initiative to position the country as a leading biologics developer.

Swedish regenerative medicine firm Xintela has been appointed a partner in the 6-year project to establish the CAMP cell and gene therapy research center, with SEK 48 million ($5.5 million) in funding from the countrys innovation agency and research council, Vinnova and Vetenskapsrdet. Xintel said that as one of the CAMP initiative founders, it will work with Swedens universities, research institutes, and with firms including AstraZeneca, GE Healthcare and Pfizer. Xintela will initially act as an advisor for development of the center, but in the longer term expects to benefit from emerging R&D.

It is gratifying that the Swedish government, Vinnova and Vetenskapsrdet acknowledge the huge potential of cell and gene therapy and the strong position that Sweden has in this research field,commented Xintela CEO Evy Lundgren-kerlund. Xintela is one of the companies in Sweden with large development potential in cell therapy, which makes us a natural partner for this project.

In the short term CAMP aims to establish itself as an internationally recognised center for R&D, innovation and clinical practice, and to promote industrial growth and SMEs. Longer-term goals include attracting investment from the global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

Xintela is exploiting its XINMARK protein marker technology and XACT (Xintela assay for cell therapy) assay platform to develop an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy for repairing cartilage damage in osteoarthritis, and to progress a tumor-targeting antibody treatment for glioblastoma.

Last month the firm established a collaboration with Germany-based CO.DON, which develops autologous cell therapies for cartilage repair. The firms will work together on the development of Xintelas markers both for a next generation CO.DN cell therapy program and for Xintelas cartilage repair cell therapy product.

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Sweden Launches Initiative to Establish Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Research - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News