VivaZome licenses University of Adelaide stem cell technology

VivaZome Therapeutics and the University of Adelaide have entered into a series of agreements encompassing licensing of technology, access to stem cells and conduct of research, all in support of VivaZome’s mission to develop and commercialise exosome-based therapeutics.

Under the Licence Agreement, VivaZome has secured world-wide rights to intellectual property for the selection, isolation, purification, expansion and processing of stem cells from certain human tissues suitable for production of subcellular fractions. VivaZome will process these fractions to generate exosome products.

The Research and Material Transfer Agreements cover the collection of specified tissue types, the selection, derivation and expansion of cell lines from the tissues, and the subsequent supply of those cell lines to VivaZome.

The research program at the University of Adelaide will be conducted in the Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Laboratory in the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science. The MSC Laboratory was founded, and is led by eminent stem cell researcher Prof Stan Gronthos, a NHMRC Principal Research Fellow with a specialty in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He is also Co-Director of the Centre for Stem Cell Research at the University. Stem cell technology from Prof Gronthos formed part of the founding technology for Mesoblast, the world’s largest stem cell company.

VivaZome’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Haylock, stated: “VivaZome is delighted to have secured this multi-faceted deal with the University of Adelaide and Professor Gronthos. Access to the University’s technology and the associated cell lines is the culmination of an extensive exercise by VivaZome to identify and secure cell types with the potential to function as the factories for our therapeutic exosomes. Based on assessments done at CSIRO and at La Trobe University, we believe that these cell lines will make pro- angiogenic exosomes with high efficiency.”

University of Adelaide Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg, said: “This partnership highlights the breadth and depth of fundamental work performed by University of Adelaide researchers. Our collaboration with VivaZome demonstrates the University’s commitment to investigator-led research that is also aimed at delivering long term benefits to the economy and to society.”

VivaZome’s Chair, Dr Ian Nisbet, commented: “The collaboration with University of Adelaide is the latest in VivaZome’s international network of collaborations and the cell lines generated with the University will be a valuable addition to VivaZome’s portfolio of proprietary assets.”