Rheincell set to be acquired by Catalent

Under the agreement, Catalent will acquire  RheinCell Therapeutics GmbH, a developer and manufacturer of GMP-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for an undisclosed amount of money. The deal will enable Catalent to offer the building blocks to scale iPSC-based cell therapies while reducing barriers to entry to the clinic for therapeutic companies. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of 2021, subject to customary conditions.

iPSCs are cells that can be differentiated into various cell types to address a wide range of therapeutic indications. Founded in 2017, RheinCell has undertaken significant research and development of full GMP human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched cell banks with superior genomic integrity, as well as investing in development-scale operational capabilities. RheinCell is based in Langenfeld, near Düsseldorf, Germany. Upon closing, RheinCell’s current employees will join Catalent’s Cell & Gene Therapy business.

“By offering a renewable, and standardized, source of cells for further product development, iPSCs have the potential to be a disruptive technology that could fuel the development of the next generation of cell therapies and substantially enhance the ability to manufacture at scale,” said Julien Meissonnier, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Catalent. He added, “Catalent is committed to building a full-scale value chain for emerging modalities and accelerating their path to market through expertise and innovation.”

Since 2020, Catalent has invested in its cell therapy capabilities with four strategic expansions at its Gosselies, Belgium, campus – the location of its European Center of Excellence for cell and gene therapy. Together with its US-based cell and gene therapy facilities, Catalent continues to increase its clinical and commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities across the full range of cell and gene therapy activity.