#USA #ARPA-H #Fort Collins, Colorado #Likarda #CaseBioscience

CaseBioscience's Groundbreaking Collaboration with ARPA-H

In an exciting development in the field of biotechnology, CaseBioscience® has announced its collaboration with a multidisciplinary team led by Likarda, which has been awarded a substantial grant of up to $7.3 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This funding is aimed at pioneering innovative methods for the preservation of cell therapies at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for refrigeration.

The Ambitious Goals of the BoSS Program

The initiative falls under ARPA-H's BioStabilization Systems (BoSS) program, which aims to develop and enhance technologies that facilitate the production, storage, and transport of living cells without refrigeration. The goal is to create advanced biological therapies that can be stored and transported as easily as common over-the-counter medications like aspirin.

The Reversible Ambient Biostabilization (RAB) team, comprising experts from CaseBioscience, Draper, CPSI Biotech, Fresenius Kabi, Likarda, MiNK Therapeutics, and Spencer Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, is one of only three selected teams in this prestigious program.

Focused Areas of Expertise

This diverse team brings together expertise from a variety of fields including conservation science, cell biology, cellular metabolism, bioengineering, immunology, stem cell biology, formulation development, and production. With such a broad knowledge base, the team is well-equipped to tackle the complexities of cell therapy logistics.

The project is slated to run for an initial 15-month phase, starting from September 24, 2026. During this period, the team will focus on reducing dependence on traditional cooling logistic chains. This is to be achieved by integrating specialized physiological mechanisms, innovative cell protection strategies, and bioengineering approaches, all aimed at developing new methods for storing and transporting cell-based therapeutics effectively at room temperature.

Breaking Down the Challenges

Cell therapies have shown immense potential in transforming treatments for various severe diseases, including cancer. However, their wider availability is often hampered by the complexities and costs associated with cold chain logistics. Many cell-based products require specific conditions for preservation, storage, and transportation to maintain their viability and functionality.

Technologies that can stabilize therapeutic cells at room temperature would not only simplify distribution but also significantly reduce logistical barriers, ultimately increasing access to these advanced medicines. Dr. John Baust, a leader in biopreservation and a collaborator with CPSI Biotech, noted, "The concept of preserving live cells in a dry state has been explored for over two decades, but significant scientific and technical hurdles have previously limited success. The BoSS program from ARPA-H provides an unprecedented opportunity to tackle these challenges from multiple scientific and technical fronts. Should this work prove successful, it could represent a fundamental shift in the storage, preservation, and distribution of biological therapeutics."

A Legacy of Innovation in Biopreservation

The program draws upon extensive research roots within the CaseBioscience scientific team. Dr. Lynda McGinnis, the director of research and development at CaseBioscience, has a rich history of pioneering early research into dry-state sperm storage over two decades ago. She emphasizes, "This is a fantastic opportunity to revisit research that some of us began in Boston 25 years ago. It's time for a completely new paradigm in how we store and transport cells for clinical therapies and even for reproductive medicine."

Future Prospects and Collaborations

In contributing to the development and evaluation of new approaches for long-term stabilization of therapeutic cells at room temperature, CaseBioscience leverages its expertise in clinical media formulation, biopreservation, and cell metabolism. Dr. Kevin Flynn, the Chief Scientific Officer at CaseBioscience, adds, “We are thrilled to be part of a program that has the scientific depth and resources to develop ideas that could significantly advance the field. This is an opportunity to utilize our capabilities in exceptional collaboration, exploring previously unimaginable avenues to convert this potential into real progress.”

Ami Mezezi, co-founder and CEO of CaseBioscience, expressed pride in being selected for the BoSS program, stating, “This recognition is a significant endorsement of our science and preservation technology, as well as the team behind it. If live cell therapies could be stored and transported as simply as regular medications, it would fundamentally alter the approach to them, and we are honored to collaborate with such an outstanding group of partners to achieve this goal.”

As the BoSS program enters its initial phase, the RAB team has begun their collaborative research and development, poised to make significant strides in the field of biotechnology. The work from this initiative could potentially change the landscape of cell therapy accessibility for patients in need and is a significant leap forward in biomedical innovation.