FX.co ★ Vertex Pharma Obtains Exclusive License To TreeFrog's Cell Manufacturing Technology, C-Stem

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced on Tuesday that it has secured an exclusive license for C-Stem, a proprietary cell manufacturing technology from French biotech firm, TreeFrog Therapeutics. This technology is designed to increase the efficient production of Vertex's cell therapies for type 1 diabetes.

C-Stem, TreeFrog's exclusive technology platform, is designed to replicate the natural microenvironment, enabling cells to exponentially proliferate in a three-dimensional format. TreeFrog and Vertex will join forces to scale up TreeFrog's process to create and increase cells for Vertex's therapies for type 1 diabetes.

According to the agreement, TreeFrog will receive a $25 million upfront payment, an equity investment from Vertex, and up to $215 million in milestone payments related to the development of a scaled-up process for fully differentiated islet cells. On top of that, TreeFrog is entitled to receive an extra $540 million in clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones for up to two future products and tiered single-digit royalties.

Vertex will shoulder all research and development expenses pertaining to the collaboration. Additionally, the company will also be in charge of any developmental activities and the commercialization of its cell therapies.

Vertex hopes that the C-Stem technology will increase its ability to produce large quantities of fully differentiated cells for its portfolio of type 1 diabetes cell therapies.