Cellular therapies that are sent from their place of manufacture to hospitals are frozen in a substance that protects the cells from the damage caused by freezing, but the substance, a cryoprotectant called DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide), is toxic.
When the cells are thawed the DMSO is delivered with the cells potentially compromising both the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Farlan Veraitch and his team have developed a novel filtration device (CPREP) which thaws, washes and loads cells into a syringe that is free from DMSO and ready for administration. A new company, Closed Cell Systems, has been formed to commercialise the technology. The hope is that CPREP becomes an industry standard by addressing the unmet need to remove DMSO from cellular therapies.
