Novartis, Regenerex in Global Licensing and Research Alliance

Novartis has entered into an exclusive global licensing and research collaboration with Regenerex to use the company’s novel Facilitating Cell Therapy (FCRx) platform, which has been investigated in kidney transplantation to induce stable immunological tolerance, eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppression. Regenerex’s platform will also be investigated in serious genetic deficiencies such as inherited metabolic storage disorders and hemoglobinopathies.
 
FCRx expands Novartis’ cell therapy portfolio, which includes two novel cell therapy platforms initially being investigated in hematological malignancies, HSC835 and CTL019, both currently in Phase II development.
 
“As the field of biomedicine sits on the cusp of a new transformation, we are excited to announce this agreement which supports the Novartis leadership position in cell therapy,” said Dr. Timothy Wright, global head development, Novartis. “Thirty years ago, Novartis developed ciclosporin, which changed transplantation treatment paradigms and enabled countless lives to be saved. Now, this collaboration, along with our internal cell therapy assets, has the potential to transform medicine once again through innovation.”