MaxCyte enters collaboration with Ori Biotech

(Sharecast News) - MaxCyte announced a strategic collaboration with Ori Biotech on Wednesday, to improve the efficiency and scalability of cell therapy manufacturing, integrating its 'Flow Electroporation' technology with Ori's next-generation 'IRO' manufacturing platform.

The AIM-traded firm said the partnership would focus on evaluating how Ori's IRO system could enhance yield and reduce manufacturing timelines for MaxCyte-engineered T cells, using CD19 CAR expression via CRISPR knock-in as the initial test case.

It said the aim was to streamline post-electroporation cell expansion processes compared to traditional methods.

MaxCyte's 'ExPERT' platform is already deployed across more than 19 clinical and commercial programs, offering what the company described as "robust and flexible" transfection capabilities at clinical scale.

Ori's IRO platform would complement that with automated fluid handling, customisable mixing, and its 'OriConnect' tubeless sterile connection system, providing further improvements in cell culture efficiency and scalability.

The companies said the collaboration reflected a shared commitment to enabling integrated solutions for advanced therapy developers, helping to accelerate the journey from lab to clinic and expand patient access to next-generation cell and gene therapies.

"We are excited to collaborate with the team at Ori Biotech, combining our respective strengths and innovative technologies to significantly enhance manufacturing processes," said MaxCyte president and chief executive officer Maher Masoud.

"This partnership underscores our commitment to enabling therapy developers to more effectively address the evolving demands of cell therapy manufacturing, ultimately accelerating the availability of transformative treatments for patients."

At 0958 BST, shares in MaxCyte were down 2.91% at 167p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.