Posted: 1 August 2023
CCRM Australia, with its Canadian partners OmniaBio Inc. and Toronto-based CCRM, has signed a Letter of Intent with The University of Queensland to establish the Advanced Cell Therapy Manufacturing Initiative (ACTMI) at the St Lucia (Brisbane, Queensland) campus of the University.
Through this partnership, the CCRM group will work with The University of Queensland to establish ACTMI as a prominent centre for advancing cell therapy process development, ultimately benefiting patients and contributing to the overall progress of the regenerative medicine sector.
According to Silvio Tiziani, CEO of CCRM Australia, “We are incredibly enthusiastic about this project and its potential to drive advancements in the regenerative medicine sector. This initiative aligns perfectly with CCRM Australia’s objectives of forging partnerships with key Australian organisations to enhance and strengthen the regenerative medicine landscape in Australia. By partnering with The University of Queensland and combining the expertise in process development of cell therapy manufacturing of CCRM and OmniaBio, we can create a transformative facility that will propel the growth and innovation of regenerative medicine in Australia.”
This collaboration exemplifies the CCRM group’s commitment to fostering strategic alliances and leveraging global expertise to accelerate the development and commercialisation of regenerative medicine technologies.
“CCRM Australia is the first CCRM hub located outside of Canada,” explains Michael May, President and CEO of CCRM, “and this plan to build cell therapy process development capabilities is a significant milestone for the organisation and for enhancing cell therapy manufacturing in Australia. Eventually, we want to see harmonised biomanufacturing happening across the CCRM hubs to support the global regenerative medicine community.” CCRM is a leader in developing and commercialising regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies (CGTs).
OmniaBio, a subsidiary of Toronto-based CCRM, is a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) that will offer commercial-stage manufacturing for cell and gene therapy developers once its facility at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario, is built.
“OmniaBio is evaluating the benefits of expanding into the Asia Pacific region, and Australia is an obvious fit, given our relationship with CCRM Australia and the progress happening in
Victoria and Queensland,” says Mitchel Sivilotti, CEO of OmniaBio Inc. “We view the partnership with The University of Queensland as an important stepping stone for expanding our technology development network and offering CGT CDMO services to this part of the world.”
