News
21 October 2021
Exacis Biotherapeutics Announces Strategic Partnership With CCRM For Specialty Manufacturing Of Services And Investment For Development Of iPSC-Derived mRNA-Engineered NK Cells
– Exacis uses proprietary mRNA-based cell engineering to develop off-the-shelf immune cell therapies for cancer treatment from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Exacis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a development-stage immuno-oncology company working to harness the immune system to cure cancer, today announced initiation of a strategic partnership with Toronto-based Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) for specialty manufacturing services related to the development of Exacis’ innovative, iPSC-derived mRNA-engineered NK cell products to treat cancer. The partnership also includes a cash investment into Exacis by CCRM Enterprises Holdings Ltd., the for-profit venture investment arm of CCRM, which will be used to fund operations. »Continue Reading.
15 September 2021
Factor Bioscience Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Grand Opening of ISO Class 7 Cleanroom Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Factor Bioscience Inc., a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, celebrated its tenth anniversary on September 9, 2021, with the grand opening of its new ISO Class 7 cleanroom facility at its headquarters near Inman Square. The new facility allows Factor and its strategic partners to produce advanced mRNA, gene-editing, and cell-therapy products for all phases of clinical development.
“This expansion will accelerate the development of important therapeutic applications of our technologies in areas such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and regenerative medicine,” said Factor Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Matt Angel, Ph.D. “This is the culmination of a decade of work by the Factor team and a shared vision between us and our strategic partners.” »Continue Reading.
09 September 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics to Participate in Grand Opening of Cambridge-Based mRNA Cleanroom Facility Shared with Factor Bioscience
NEW YORK, Sept. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer, blood disorders, and monogenic diseases, today announced that Chief Executive Officer and President Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., will participate in the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its mRNA Cleanroom facility shared with Factor Bioscience in Cambridge, Mass.“
The new mRNA Cleanroom facility is an important part of our planned R&D operations, and of strategic advantage as we share the space with Factor Biosciences, from which we have in-licensed critical mRNA and gene editing technology,” said Dr. Federoff. “We are also pleased to wish Factor Bioscience and its co-founders, Drs. Matt Angel and Christopher Rohde, a happy tenth anniversary of the founding of that company.” » Continue Reading.
20 July 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Completes Acquisition of Novellus Therapeutics
Acquisition Advances Transformation Into Platform Company Focused on Cell, Gene Editing and Cytokine Therapy
Company to Hold Conference Call Today, July 19, 2021, at 4:15 PM ET to Discuss the Transaction and Future Plans
New York – July 19, 2021 – Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer, blood disorders, and monogenic diseases, today announced that it had completed, on July 16, 2021, its acquisition of Novellus Therapeutics Limited (“Novellus”). Novellus is developing next‑generation engineered mesenchymal stem cell (“MSC”) therapies using extensively patented mRNA-based cell reprogramming and gene editing technologies licensed from Factor Bioscience (“Factor”). The transaction advances Brooklyn’s evolution into a platform company with a pipeline of next-generation engineered cellular, gene editing and cytokine programs.
Key Transaction Highlights:Brooklyn acquired Novellus for consideration totaling $125 million, which consisted of $23 million in cash and 7,022,230 shares of Brooklyn common stock, which were valued at a total of $102 million based on a price of approximately $14.53 per share. Immediately following the closing, the shares issued represented, on an as-converted basis, 13.6% of the shares of Brooklyn’s outstanding common stock, which closed at a price of $10.05 per share on July 16, 2021. » Continue Reading.
01 July 2021
Exacis Biotherapeutics Makes Strategic Investment In Manufacturing by Hiring Head of Technical Operations and Securing Space in a GMP Cleanroom Facility Recently Completed by Factor Bioscience
- Bryan Jones PhD brings significant experience to role of Head of Technical Operations
- Cleanroom facility gives Exacis capacity to produce mRNA-based cell therapies
- Bypasses traditional timelines and costs associated with third-party GMP manufacturing
- Includes iPSC derived, engineered T and NK cells
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Exacis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a development-stage immuno-oncology company working to harness the immune system to cure cancer, today announced two significant advances in its manufacturing capabilities. Exacis is partnering with parent Factor Bioscience to produce its iPSC-derived CAR-T and NK cells within a GMP cleanroom facility built by Factor, and Exacis has hired Bryan Jones PhD as its Head of Technical Operations.
Exacis’ parent company, Factor Bioscience, recently completed construction of a 5,000 square foot GMP cleanroom facility at its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters. The facility includes two ISO Class 7 cleanrooms and is designed to enable production of advanced mRNA, gene-editing, and cell therapy products to support all phases of clinical development. Exacis will use this new facility to produce its allogeneic mRNA engineered cell-therapy product candidates for non-clinical and clinical testing. »Continue Reading.
14 June 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Executes Letter of Intent to Acquire Novellus Therapeutics
Brooklyn Immunotherapeutics LLC
Mon, June 14, 2021, 7:30 AM
Novellus Therapeutics develops next-generation mesenchymal stem cell products using licensed patented mRNA cell reprogramming and gene editing technologies
NEW YORK, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics LLC (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer, blood disorders, and monogenic diseases, today announced it has executed a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) to acquire Novellus Therapeutics (“Novellus”), a company developing next-generation engineered mesenchymal stem cell (“MSC”) therapies using patented mRNA cell reprogramming and gene editing technologies licensed from Factor Bioscience (“Factor”). It is expected that the transaction will involve an acquisition by Brooklyn of all of the outstanding equity of Novellus (the “Transaction”).
Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, the parties intend to sign a definitive agreement (the “Definitive Agreement”) and work to close the acquisition on or before July 15, 2021. The terms of the LOI value Novellus at $125.0 million, which is proposed to be paid by Brooklyn by a combination of $17.4 million in cash and $107.6 million in BTX common stock. Brooklyn currently has over $43 million of cash on its balance sheet to fund the cash component of the Transaction. The completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, and no assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a Definitive Agreement or that the proposed Transaction will be closed on the terms or timeframe contemplated by the LOI, or at all. »Continue Reading.
02 June 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Establishes Research and Development Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Co-locates with technology developers Factor Bioscience and Novellus Therapeutics
June 02, 2021 08:00 ET | Source: Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics
BROOKLYN, N.Y., June 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer, blood disorders, and monogenic disorders, today announced it has established a research and development center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to pursue its mRNA-based gene editing and cellular therapies. The company has co-located with Factor Bioscience Limited (“Factor”) and Novellus Therapeutics Limited (“Novellus”), from which Brooklyn has acquired an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize certain cell-based therapies to treat cancer and rare blood disorders, including sickle cell disease, based on the patented technology and know-how of Factor and Novellus.
“Our new R&D facility will provide us with the ability to advance our research and development efforts. We believe co-locating with Factor and Novellus will promote our capability to leverage our collaboration and further our objectives in developing a diversified portfolio of new, advanced therapeutics,” said Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., Brooklyn’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “Recent presentations by Factor and Novellus at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy conference have reinforced our conviction that our development pathways can be broadly applicable to real world disease indications for which no effective therapies currently exist.” » Continue Reading.
25 May 2021
Exacis Biotherapeutics Presents Data on its Stealth mRNA-Engineered NK-cell Platform at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Annual Meeting
Exacis Biotherapeutics Presents Data on its Stealth mRNA-Engineered NK-cell Platform at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Annual Meeting
– Exacis produces its iPSC-derived ExaNK™ cells using its proprietary mRNA-based cell reprogramming and gene editing technologies
– ExaNK™ cells include a biallelic MHC Class I knockout designed to allow the cells to evade host immune surveillance and enhance persistence in vivo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Exacis Biotherapeutics Inc., a development-stage immuno-oncology company working to democratize access to the most advanced and effective cancer treatments, revealed key data related to its engineered iPSC-derived NK-cell platform at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 24th Annual Meeting. These data include the successful generation of functional NK cells from iPSCs engineered to contain a biallelic knockout of a key MHC class I gene. Exacis’ cell engineering strategy is designed to allow its ExaNK™ cells to evade surveillance by the patient’s immune system, thus rendering the cells rejection resistant, or “stealth”, to enable increased persistence in patients without genotoxic pre-conditioning. » Continue Reading.
24 May 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Strengthens Investment in Licensed mRNA Technology Platform with $20M Financing
May 24, 2021 02:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time
BROOKLYN, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics LLC (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company currently focused on exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer and blood disorders, today announced it has completed a $20M financing to progress the development of the mRNA gene editing and cell therapies technology recently licensed from Factor Biosciences and Novellus Therapeutics.The Company intends to utilize the funds to commence translation of the gene-editing, cellular therapy, and nanolipid particle platform into its emerging clinical programs with a focus on orphan diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, familial amyloidosis, and cell therapies for cancer. » Continue Reading.
13 May 2021
Christopher Rohde, Ph.D. to Join Scientific Advisory Board of Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc.
May 13, 2021 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
BROOKLYN, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company exploring the role that cytokine and gene editing/cell therapy can have in treating patients with cancer and blood disorders, today announced the appointment of Christopher Rohde, Ph.D. to the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board, effective May 13, 2021.
Dr. Rohde is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Factor Bioscience. Dr. Rohde is also Co-Founder and President of Novellus Therapeutics. Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics acquired an exclusive license for the mRNA gene editing and cell therapies technology of Factor Bioscience Limited and Novellus Therapeutics Limited. Dr. Rohde is currently leading Factor’s efforts to apply their RiboSlice™ gene-editing technology, and FactorStem™ cell-reprogramming and differentiation technologies to the development of new research models, including high-throughput screening-compatible human cell libraries. His work is described in numerous peer-reviewed publications and has been covered by Technology Review, Nature, Bioscience Magazine, Analytical Chemistry, The Economist, and many other publications. Chris Rohde earned his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2011.
“As Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Factor Bioscience, Dr. Rohde brings a unique and unparalleled understanding of the gene editing and cell therapy technology which Brooklyn has in-licensed to our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Brooklyn. “His in-depth knowledge and perspective will allow us to target disease at the molecular level. This is a very exciting time at Brooklyn and we are looking forward to working with Chris to rapidly advance our potential treatments for oncology, blood disorders, and monogenic diseases.”
“Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics is well-positioned to become a leader in gene editing and cell reprograming using Factor’s RiboSlice™ gene-editing technology, and FactorStem™ cell-reprogramming and differentiation technologies,” said Dr. Rohde. “I look forward to working with colleagues on the Scientific Advisory Board to optimize this leading-edge technology to develop new therapies for patients living with cancer and blood disorders.” » Continue Reading.
11 May 2021
Factor Bioscience to Deliver Six Digital Presentations at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 24th Annual Meeting
-The presentations will reveal advances in mRNA, circleRNA, gene editing, cell reprogramming, and iPS cell-derived NK-cell technologies.
-Factor’s participation in this year’s ASGCT Annual Meeting marks the company’s ten-year anniversary and represents the most comprehensive presentation of the company’s data to date.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Factor Bioscience Inc., a Cambridge-based biotechnology company focused on developing mRNA and cell-engineering technologies, announced its participation in the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 24th Annual Meeting to be held virtually May 11-14, 2021, at which Factor will deliver six digital presentations:
- “High-efficiency generation of biallelic gene knockout iPSC lines using mRNA gene editing.” -to be presented by Mitchell Kopacz on May 11 from 8-10 am.
- “Removing T0 constraint reveals differences in specificity of engineered gene-editing proteins.” -to be presented by Mackenzie Parmenter on May 11 from 8-10 am.
- “Knock-in iPS cell line generation using end-modified linear DNA donors.” -to be presented by Aidan Simpson on May 11 from 8-10 am.
- “Splint and ribozyme-free enzymatic synthesis and purification of long circular RNA for in vitro translation in human cells.” -to be presented by Aisha Svihla on May 11 from 8-10 am.
- “DNA-binding domains containing novel repeat sequences enable temperature-tunable gene editing in primary human cells.” -to be presented by Yemi Osayame on May 11 from 8-10 am.
- “Lipid-stripped albumin enables high-efficiency mRNA reprogramming of adult human fibroblasts.” -to be presented by Jasmine Harris on May 11 from 8-10 am.
Digital presentations will be made available on the ASGCT website on May 11, 2021. For more information on the upcoming American Society of Genetic & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting, visit https://annualmeeting.asgct.org/.
» Continue Reading.
29 April 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Acquires License for mRNA Technology Platform to Develop Genetically Edited Cells to Treat Multiple Cancers, Blood and Other Disorders
April 29, 2021 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
BROOKLYN, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics LLC (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”) today announced it has acquired an exclusive license for mRNA gene editing and cell therapies technology of Factor Bioscience Limited and Novellus Therapeutics Limited pursuant to an exercise of a previously announced option.
The license includes use of an extensively patented process to develop gene editing compounds using mRNA, which preclinical data suggest demonstrate a high degree of efficiency, as well as being non-immunogenic and non-mutagenic.
The licensed platform includes mRNA cell reprogramming, which is considered to be the highest efficiency and footprint-free technology that can be applied to both allogeneic and autologous cells, and is combined with mRNA-based gene editing – along with a proprietary gene editing protein – to eliminate off-target effects. It also includes the proprietary ToRNAdo lipid delivery system that provides efficient delivery of mRNA ex vivo and in vivo to skin, brain, eye and lung tissue. » Continue Reading.
15 April 2021
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics Pays $1 Million Towards Acquisition of License for mRNA Technology Platform to Develop Genetically Edited Cells for Multiple Cancers and Blood Disorders
April 15, 2021 04:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
BROOKLYN, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: BTX) (“Brooklyn”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on exploring the role that cytokine-based therapy can have in treating patients with cancer, today announced it has paid $1 million towards the acquisition of a license for Factor Bioscience’s and Novellus’ mRNA Gene Editing and Cell Therapies technology and has extended through May 21, 2021 its option exercise period for entering into a related license agreement with Factor Bioscience and Novellus.
If a license agreement is completed, it would allow Brooklyn to utilize an extensively patented process to seek to develop gene edited compounds using mRNA, which preclinical data suggest to be more efficient, non-immunogenic and non-mutagenic, for treatment of several solid tumor and liquid indications, sickle cell anemia, as well as a number of additional inherited disorders.
» Continue Reading.
24 March 2021
Exacis Biotherapeutics Develops mRNA-Engineered iPSC-Derived NK Cells For Difficult-To-Treat Tumors
- Exacis has generated NK cells from iPSCs engineered using mRNA gene-editing technology to resist rejection by the patient’s immune system
- ExaNK™ cells show superior tumor cell-killing activity and cytokine production compared to peripheral blood-derived NK cells
- Using iPSCs to develop off-the-shelf products avoids the need for donors
- Provisional patent application filed; data to be presented at a major conference later this year
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Exacis Biotherapeutics Inc., a development-stage immuno-oncology company working to democratize access to the most advanced and effective cancer treatments, today announced several important steps in the preclinical development of its ExaNK™ engineered NK cell-therapy candidates…Exacis has an exclusive license to the Factor Bioscience technology for engineered NK and T cell products derived from iPSCs for use in oncology and holds all global development and commercial rights for these investigational candidates… » Continue Reading.
23 March 2021
Wise Construction selected to build Factor Biosciences Cambridge cGMP facility
CAMBRIDGE, MA–Wise Construction has been selected to build Factor Biosciences Cambridge cGMP facility located in a building that had previously only been used for office tenants, the company announced. “When Factor Bioscience needed a new space for their cGMP facility, research labs, and offices, they knew Wise’s expertise in conversions would lead to a successful project,” Wise Construction said in a statement.
As a developer of technologies for engineering cells to advance the study and treatment of disease, Factor needed the facility to house two ISO7 clean rooms, an ISO8 clean room supply and return space, a CNC BL2 lab, along with all associated office and support areas… » Continue Reading.
18 March 2021
CÚRAM and Factor Bioscience join forces to develop new cell therapy for COVID-19 patients
New cell therapy could be brought to clinical trials for severe Covid-19 cases within the next year.
Galway, Ireland–CÚRAM, the SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices based at NUI Galway, has announced a new research partnership with US-based biotechnology company, Factor Bioscience Inc, to develop and test a new cell therapy for people with severe Covid infections and other serious respiratory illness…. » Continue Reading.
22 January 2021
Factor Bioscience Profile
Brief version of a profile of a Cambridge, MA, company doing research and manufacture of MRNA technology that will slow and even reverse the aging process in human beings… » View Here.
06 January 2021
Factor Bioscience Spins Out A New Cell Therapy Player With Eyes On The Clinic Within 2 Years
The quest for CAR-T 2.0 is gaining an mRNA player, as Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Factor Bioscience sends a spinoff racing toward the clinic.
Factor drew the curtains on Exacis Biotherapeutics on Wednesday morning, with Sollis Therapeutics co-founder Gregory Fiore at the helm of a small immuno-oncology focused team built around Factor’s technology. The spinoff has the rights to 51 patents and just a bit of seed money from friends and family to get it going — but Fiore says an IND submission is on the horizon…. » Continue Reading