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Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cellipont Bioservices and Optieum Biotechnologies Partner to Advance cGMP Manufacturing of Groundbreaking CAR-T Therapy for Glioblastoma
Collaboration Leverages the OPTF01 product to Drive Next-Generation CAR-T Development THE WOODLANDS, Texas and EHIME, Japan, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellipont Bioservices, a leading cell therapy Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), and Optieum Biotechnologies (Optieum), a preclinical stage company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, today announced a partnership for cGMP manufacturing of OPTF01, Optieum's novel CAR-T therapy for glioblastoma treatment, a product derived from their proprietary Eumbody System. OPTF01 specifically targets Fibroblast activation protein-alpha (FAPα) a protein expressed on both tumor cells and the surrounding pericytes and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts (CAFs). Hence, OPTF01 can potentially disrupt the immunosuppressive microenvironment around the tumor while simultaneously attacking the malignant cells within the tumor. Successful development of this therapeutic approach would address a critical unmet medical need for patients with refractory glioblastoma who currently face limited treatment options with poor prognoses, as well as various other solid tumor indications. Under this collaboration, Cellipont Bioservices will provide the technology transfer, process development, and cGMP manufacturing of Optieum's novel OPTF01 CAR-T product. "Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers, demanding urgent innovation beyond traditional approaches," said Darren Head, CEO of Cellipont Bioservices. "Our collaboration with Optieum presents an exciting opportunity to leverage advanced CAR-T technologies and bring meaningful solutions to patients in need. We are honored to be part of this critical mission." Shun Nishioka, CEO of Optieum added, "At Optieum, we are committed to redefining the future of CAR-T therapy through relentless innovation and scientific rigor. Partnering with Cellipont's team of experts ensures that our groundbreaking therapies are manufactured to the highest standards, accelerating our progress toward delivering next-generation therapies for glioblastoma and other solid tumors." OPTF01 is derived from the Eumbody System, a proprietary platform representing a significant advancement in CAR-T cell therapy development. This platform leverages rapid and expansive functional screening to identify and optimize CAR constructs in unprecedented fashion. By dynamically harmonizing single-chain variable fragment (scFv) sequences to enhance the functional capabilities of T cells, the Eumbody System sets a new standard in CAR-T innovation. About CellipontCellipont Bioservices is a premier Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in the advancement of cell therapies. With a team of industry-leading experts, Cellipont is at the forefront of cell therapy development and manufacturing, offering comprehensive solutions from process development, analytical services, to large-scale commercial manufacturing. Our purpose-built facility, combined with our cutting-edge technology and commitment to quality enable us to support our clients in delivering life-changing cell therapies to patients worldwide. Cellipont Bioservices is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of our operations, ensuring that we not only meet but exceed the expectations of our clients and the communities we serve. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn. About Optieum BiotechnologiesOptieum Biotechnologies Inc. is a cutting-edge biotechnology company dedicated to engineering hope for patients through the development of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. At the heart of Optieum's innovation is its proprietary Eumbody System, a revolutionary platform that optimizes CAR constructs to unlock the full therapeutic potential of T cells by dynamically harmonizing CAR binding domains. This transformative platform has the potential to redefine CAR-T cell therapy, enabling the development of groundbreaking treatments for challenging diseases. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cellipont Bioservices Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bionova Opens Fremont Process Development and Pilot Plant
FREMONT, Calif., March 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bionova Scientific, an Asahi Kasei company and boutique commercial-scale biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced the opening of a new facility in Fremont, California. The 55,000 sq. ft. process development and pilot plant will significantly expand the company's ability to advance early-stage biologics assets to first-in-human trials and facilitate the future expansion of its manufacturing capacity. Bionova hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by approximately 150 industry and community leaders to mark the occasion. Darren Head, Chairman & President; Jesse McCool, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer; and James Glover II, Chief Operating Officer, were joined by The Honorable Raj Salwan, Mayor of the City of Fremont. Representatives were also in attendance from the Office of Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Eric Swallwell; the Office of State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab; the Office of the Alameda County Assessor Phong La; and Cindy Bonior, CEO of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. "Many of our customers are early-stage biopharmaceutical innovators who need agile partners who can quickly provide process development and reliable manufacturing operations that are scaleable, without the need to tech transfer to another CDMO as their programs mature," commented Darren Head, Chairman & President of Bionova. "This new facility enhances our capacity to serve early-stage clients while also providing overflow capacity for our larger biopharma customers." At the event, Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan commented, "Fremont has long been a leader in biopharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. Being home to over 100 biomedical companies, Fremont has adopted the industry slogan of being the City where BioMed goes to scale. Having operated its entire existence in Fremont, Bionova is unique in being a 100% homegrown success story, and their growth has been remarkable. Fremont wholeheartedly congratulates Bionova on their new facility and expansion in our community and looks forward to our continued partnership for many years to come." Widely known as "Biotech Bay," the biopharma industry in the San Francisco Bay Area is considered one of the largest in the United States, generating more than $142 billion in economic activity and over 328,000 direct and indirect jobs. The region represents a substantial portion of U.S. biotech venture capital investment, positioning Bionova to help local innovators advance their assets to the clinic efficiently and cost-effectively. "Bionova's team of bioprocess experts has proven itself as a valuable partner for clients seeking to overcome challenging CMC issues, especially with complex modalities," said Michelle Chen, Senior Vice President for Process Development and Manufacturing at Bionova. "With this new facility, all of our pre-GMP activities are co-located and integrated under one roof. We already see meaningful technical and efficiency gains as our PD teams can facilitate seamless technology transfer by scaling and training simultaneously." Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) commented, "Congratulations to Bionova Scientific on the opening of its new process development facility. Bionova is a native son of my hometown of Fremont and is now positioned to help biopharma drug makers move their innovations from early-stage compounds to commercial, life-saving drugs, including potential new cancer treatments." To learn more about Bionova, visit About Bionova Scientific Bionova Scientific partners with innovators in the biologic industry to bring life-changing therapies to market. Founded in 2014 and acquired by Asahi Kasei Group in 2022, Bionova Scientific offers customers access to superior tools and technologies and an unwavering commitment to quality delivered with scientific excellence across the entire lifecycle. Bionova offers integrated CDMO services that span cell line development, process development to the cGMP manufacturing of complex proteins and antibodies. Our experienced Bay Area scientists bring proven expertise to overcoming discovery to first-in-human development challenges and scale-up. Bionova is a flexible and collaborative partner that has worked with leading biotechnology innovators from its new state-of-the-art facility in the San Francisco Bay Area. About Asahi Kasei The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its health care operations include devices and systems for acute critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents. For more information, visit and View source version on Contacts Bionova Scientific: Chris Halling (Orientation Marketing)+44 (0)7580 Asahi Kasei North America: Asahi Kasei America Asahi Kasei Europe: Asahi Kasei Europe GmbHSebastian
