Athersys signs licensing agreement with Ardent Animal Health

Athersys Inc, a cell therapy and regenerative medicine company developing MultiStem (invimestrocel) for critical care indications, and Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cell (MAPC) technology for equine, canine, and feline health applications, has signed a licensing agreement with Ardent Animal Health (Ardent). Ardent is a privately held veterinary biotechnology company creating regenerative medicine and cancer therapies for animals.¹

SAJ / stock.adobe.com

“We’re excited to announce this agreement with Ardent based on their proven capabilities in developing stem cell-based treatment options for animals. This agreement recognizes the progress we’ve made in preclinical research and manufacturing of MAPC for animal health and provides Ardent a solid foundation to build on,” expressed Dan Camardo, CEO of Athersys, in a company release.¹

Athersys will receive an initial fee from Ardent in exchange for an exclusive license to MAPC technology for non-human mammal applications in the US through the terms of agreement. The agreement features pre- and post-regulatory approval milestone payments to Athersys, including payments on conditional and full product approval for each species/indication combination. Athersys will also be given tiered, double-digit royalties on commercial sales, according to the release.

Athersys has also granted Ardent rights of first refusal to be the exclusive distributor for Athersys’ cryogenic storage system, the Secure Integrated Freezer Unit (SIFU) in the US animal health sector.¹

“We look forward to this partnership with Athersys as we develop innovative and life-changing treatments for animals. Through partnerships like this and with the strong results generated to date with MAPC, we’re better able to advance stem cell therapy for joint disease and other areas of unmet need in animal health,” added Thomas Masterson, president of Ardent.¹

Reference

Athersys licenses animal health assets to Ardent Animal Health. News release. Ardent Animal Health. October 3, 2023. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231003236554/en