Cardiff spin-out raises a further £400K

Abcellute Ltd, a spin out from Cardiff University, raised £400,000 to accelerate the development of its technology for preserving cells without freezing them. The company intends to apply the technique to cell therapies.

The £400,000 brings the amount raised by Abcellute over the past 12 months to £1.2 million. During the same period the company, working with a range of collaborators, has demonstrated that freshly isolated human hepatocytes (liver cells) preserved in Abcellute’s matrix remain viable and retain essential functions for up to 7 days.

Alex Watson, CEO said, “Having obtained proof of concept of Abcellute’s cell preservation technology through numerous external evaluations conducted by pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and academic institutes in Europe, the USA and Japan, we are now seeking to implement a planned programme of new research studies.”

“In addition to the further refinement of the cell preservation technology, Abcellute will now be able to exploit its potential in cell therapy.”

This involves working with clinical research teams in a number of projects, including the enhancement of cell infusion technologies in such areas as Huntington’s Disease.

“The company’s technology might also have advantages in surgical management, such as post-organ transplantation blood vessel repair,” said Watson, adding, “An approved project with a leading London hospital focusing on this area will now be implemented within a few weeks.”