Cytora Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Israel developing allogeneic, stem cell therapies; Made Scientific, a U.S.-based cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO); and Zeo ScientifiX, a Florida-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in research, clinical trials, manufacturing and the commercialization, and market access of biologics, announced a comprehensive strategic partnership to advance and commercialize Cytora's novel allogeneic, off- the- shelf, human oral mucosal stem cell therapy in the United States.
The partnership objectives will be the commercialization of the Cytora novel therapeutic through available avenues that have opened up under Florida's recently passed stem cell law, which permits the use of non-FDA- approved stem cells therapies that are compliant with the new regulations for the treatment of wound care, pain, and orthopedic conditions and the parallel commencement of U.S. FDA Phase 2b clinical trials for the therapeutic towards the goal of obtaining an approved FDA license.
Under this multi-party collaboration, Cytora will provide the right to manufacture Cytora's product, while continuing clinical and regulatory development, Made Scientific will serve as the exclusive U.S. manufacturing partner, GMP manufacture, and quality control release testing of starting tissue-derived cell banks and final drug product from its state-of-the-art Princeton, New Jersey facility, and Zeo will serve as the exclusive U.S. commercial partner, providing market access, distribution infrastructure, and clinical site management.
The partnership will initially pursue commercialization under Florida's Senate Bill 1768, a stem cell therapy access law, which provides a pathway for commercialization of adult allogeneic stem cell therapies for patients that suffer from wound care, pain, and orthopedic conditions. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) will serve as the lead indication, providing a potentially meaningful treatment option for an estimated 125,000 new patients annually in Florida alone. The collaboration plans to expand into additional wound, orthopedic, and pain management indications—therapeutic categories that collectively represent over 3.6 million annual cases in the state. The partnership will also support a U.S. FDA IND pathway for a Phase 2b clinical trial and future international regulatory submissions.
Cytora's technology is based on proprietary allogeneic human oral mucosal stem cells (hOMSCs), a unique cell population with demonstrated regenerative potential supported by hOMSC200 Phase 1/2a clinical data. Unlike other stem cell sources, oral mucosal stem cells can be collected through minimally invasive procedures and exhibit favorable characteristics for tissue regeneration and wound healing.
"This strategic partnership represents a major milestone for Cytora as we advance our products toward the market for the benefit of U.S. patients," said Yona Geffen, Ph.D., CEO of Cytora Therapeutics. "Made Scientific's world-class manufacturing expertise combined with Zeo's deep understanding of the U.S. regenerative medicine market create an ideal foundation for bringing our innovative oral mucosal stem cell therapy to patients who urgently need new treatment options. Non-healing diabetic foot ulcers affect millions of patients and represent a significant unmet medical need. We believe Cytora's product has the potential to transform outcomes for these patients and how wounds and other conditions are treated. In parallel, we continue to develop our novel technology for additional indications under U.S. FDA INDs."
"We are excited to partner with Cytora and Zeo on this transformative collaboration that brings together complementary expertise across technology, manufacturing, and commercialization," said Syed T. Husain, Chairman and CEO of Made Scientific. "This partnership exemplifies Made's commitment to supporting innovative cell therapies from development through commercial supply. Our integrated GMP manufacturing capabilities—including full compliance with U.S. FDA and EU GMP Annex 1 requirements—position us to deliver Cytora's innovative therapy that can make a meaningful difference for patients suffering from chronic wounds."
"Zeo has built the regulatory expertise, clinical infrastructure, and physician networks specifically to capitalize on the newly passed Florida's SB 1768 stem cell law and other legal use of stem cell frameworks," said Ian Bothwell, CEO and CFO of Zeo ScientifiX. "Partnering with Cytora and Made Scientific allows us to bring a differentiated allogeneic stem cell therapy to the physicians and patients we already serve. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to expanding patient access to transformative cell therapies through responsible, compliant commercialization."
In a completed Phase 1/2a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Cytora's hOMSC200 demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no serious adverse events related to treatment, as reviewed by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). The therapy showed statistically significant superiority over placebo in wound surface area reduction, with complete wound closure achieved in diabetic patients whose ulcers had been open for an average of 27 months.
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