proprietary nanotechnology to precisely manage a patient’s stem cells, in situ, allowing for the renewal or substitution of damaged or diseased tissue. MICA’s technique is being used for the first time in spinal fusion, a sort of spine restoration that requires out-patient treatment with only two needles and a take-home bandage.
This partnership between the CGT Catapult and MICA will be important to MICA as it engages in discussions with the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), where alignment is critical to ensuring a seamless transition into future clinical trials. The MICA team hopes to adapt this ground-breaking new approach to the field of regenerative medicine in the future, with possible applications in arthritis, tendon repair, osteoporosis, spinal cord repair, and neurodegenerative disease therapy. Dr.Alicia El Haj, Managing Director of MICA, said, “Stem cell therapy will be brought from the fringes to the forefront of treatment options.”
Chief Executive Officer of MICA Biosystems, Dr. Michal Zurawski, expressed optimism over the collaboration. He said, “This collaboration will provide a boost to ensure MICA is able to begin clinical trials in a timely manner and, most importantly, allow our technology to reach patients sooner. This new chapter in our development was made possible by an injection of investment from the UK Government and Innovate UK, recognising MICA as a real innovator and disruptor in the space of regenerative medicine. With the expertise and experience of the CGT Catapult, we aim to launch our medicines as an accessible treatment option for millions of patients with a number of life-changing diseases and injuries which currently have limited or no treatment options.”
Chief Executive Officer of Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, Matthew Durdy, expressed delight over the partnership. He said, “Our vision for the CGT Catapult is to help develop a thriving industry delivering life changing advanced therapies to the world. We are looking forward to working with MICA as an innovative company and welcome the support from the Innovate UK EDGE fund that will enable this collaboration to leverage our unique expertise to help bring MICA’s innovative technology solutions to patients.”
