Aspect Biosystems and Novo Nordisk A/S have entered into a collaboration, development and licensing agreement to develop bioprinting tissue therapeutics to replace, repair or augment biological functions in the body.
The collaboration leverages Aspect’s proprietary bioprinting technology and Novo Nordisk’s expertise in stem cell differentiation and cell therapy development and manufacturing.
The agreement grants Novo Nordisk an exclusive, worldwide license to use Aspect’s bioprinting technology to develop up to four products. Aspect will receive initial payments of $75 million and is eligible for future milestone payments of up to $650 million per product, as well as tiered royalties on future sales.
“We are thrilled to partner with Novo Nordisk, a global leader and pioneer in the fight against diabetes and chronic diseases, to create breakthrough therapeutics that could transform the lives of millions of people around the world,” said Tamer Mohamed, chief executive officer, Aspect Biosystems. “This partnership leverages Aspect’s full-stack tissue therapeutic platform, talented team and bold vision, and reinforces our strategy to create bioprinted tissue therapeutics through partnerships with global industry leaders while also advancing our internal therapeutic pipeline.”
Aspect has developed a platform technology that could enable a novel class of cell-based drugs. Novo Nordisk has expertise in stem cell differentiation and manufacturing capabilities to produce cells on a large scale.
The collaboration aims to develop implantable bioprinted tissues that can replace, repair or augment biological functions. These tissues will be designed allogeneically to increase the profitability of future large-scale production.
“Novo Nordisk has built strong capabilities when it comes to producing functional and highly pure therapeutic replacement cells at the highest quality and at scale,” said Jacob Sten Petersen, corporate vice president and head of Cell Therapy R&D, Novo Nordisk. “Collaborating with Aspect Biosystems adds an important component to our strategy to develop comprehensive cell therapy products. We are excited to co-develop solutions for cell therapy delivery that could lead to life-changing treatments for those living with a serious chronic disease.”
The collaboration will initially focus on Bioprint tissue therapeutics designed to maintain normal blood glucose levels without immunosuppression in type 1 diabetes.
Find out more about Aspect Biosystems at aspectbiosystems.com.
For more information about Novo Nordisk, please visit novonordisk-us.com.
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