Cambridge, Mass.— Biotechnology firm Cellino announced on Monday a strategic partnership with South Korean cell therapy company Karis Bio to develop the world’s first Nebula™-powered autologous induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy targeting cardiovascular diseases.
The collaboration marks Cellino’s entry into the Asia-Pacific market and aims to industrialize clinical-stage iPSC-derived therapies for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Karis Bio’s therapy uses patient-specific iPSC-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) to promote new blood vessel growth in ischemic organs, potentially offering an alternative to traditional treatments like stents or bypass surgery.
Cellino will provide its Nebula™ platform—a fully automated, closed-cassette biomanufacturing system—to support scalable and high-quality production of autologous iPSCs. The platform, deployable at the point of care, is designed to ensure reproducibility and eliminate contamination risks.
The first phase of the partnership will focus on industrializing iPSC manufacturing in support of Karis Bio’s upcoming first-in-human clinical trial in South Korea. Future plans include expansion into U.S. trials via Karis Bio’s Atlanta-based operations.
“This partnership with Karis Bio represents a pivotal step toward commercial-scale, personalized cell therapies for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Nabiha Saklayen, CEO and Co-Founder of Cellino. “It exemplifies our commitment to collaborating with leading innovators in regenerative medicine.”
Dr. Young-sup Yoon, CEO of Karis Bio, added, “Our first-in-human autologous iPSC therapy is a landmark development. This collaboration harnesses the strengths of both companies to advance a new generation of therapies that are safer and more effective.”
The alliance brings together Cellino’s AI-powered biomanufacturing and Karis Bio’s regenerative technologies to accelerate personalized treatment development for patients worldwide.
