The company’s strategic changes include a staff reduction, Cellaviva becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and the GMP facility will have new sources of revenue.

NextCell develops the cell therapy drug ProTrans for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. ProTrans is now being evaluated in a clinical trial. In addition, a five year follow-up of previous studies with ProTrans will be carried out this year, which will provide the company with valuable longitudinal data, it states.

“It is our conviction that the results from these clinical trials will be sufficient to be able to sign an agreement to out-license ProTrans for type-1 diabetes. To better position NextCell for the future, we have decided on important strategic changes,” says NextCell Pharma’s CEO Matthias Svahn.

Cellaviva becomes a subsidiary

Cellaviva is Scandinavia’s largest private stem cell bank and the business has shown a strong growth over the past five years, according to the company. During the second half of 2023, it was announced that Cellaviva had entered into an agreement to distribute tissue products to clinics, which was possible thanks to the permission from IVO to operate tissue establishments in Sweden.

“The fact that Cellaviva will become a wholly owned subsidiary in the first step means that the business will have a clearer focus with its own dedicated management team with the task of increasing sales and achieving profitability,” states the company.

Developing the GMP facility for more revenue sources

NextCell’s GMP facility for manufacturing the drug ProTrans has been completed. Today, the drug ProTrans for the paediatric study is manufactured by NextCell’s partner, contract manufacturer PBKM. The new facility has an excellent capacity and the company has decided to commission the facility according to cleanroom grade D.

This means that NextCell will have a new source of revenue through use of the facility for manufacturing cells for research purposes that will be sold to researchers and biotech companies. The study drug ProTrans will continue to be manufactured by PBKM, which is a cost-effective solution. As part of the new direction, NextCell has decided on staff reductions, which is expected to result in cost savings and streamlined activities.

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