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Cell BioEngines, Inc: Oncology Startup Chosen For SCbioDrive Accelerator Program

SOUTH CAROLINA – September 24, 2024 – Cell BioEngines, located in New York, is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing allogeneic ‘off-the-shelf’ stem cells and their derived therapies as ‘drugs’ for human disease treatment. The company has a ‘plug-and-play’ blood stem cell platform to address donor source availability, cellular potency and scaling complexities in producing clinical-grade cell products. Its lead product is currently in Phase 1 trials for the treatment of hematopoietic neoplasms not curable with available therapies.

Solutions

Cell BioEngines is developing its lead product, Savi-CORD, an Expanded CD34+ Hematopoietic Cell Therapy (eHCT) designed to enhance the graft vs. tumor effect in patients with acute leukemia and myelodysplasia. This therapy is based on an advanced HSCT platform technology and utilizes proprietary universal stem cells expanded from registered donor cord blood units (CBUs). Savi-CORD is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, with five patients having been dosed.

Cell BioEngines also has three preclinical cell-based assets in development for oncology patients and regenerative medicine applications. The lead preclinical stage product is a first-in-class ‘one-size-fits-all’ cell-based cancer vaccine composed of dendritic cell type 1 (cDC1) to circumvent the barriers in solid cancers.

Strengths

  1. Maximizing Potential:
    • It begins with healthy cord blood donor stem cells and has the ability to derive multiple assets through expansion, differentiation and de-differentiation.
  2. Enhanced and Scalable Production:
    • The manufacturing process enriches the most potent cell phenotype, allowing for the scalable production of multiple doses from one cord blood unit.
  3. AI-Driven Precision and Rapid Delivery:
    • The Integrated AI model ensures safe, effective HLA-compatible therapies with an off-the-shelf approach for swift delivery within days.
  4. Cost Effective and Innovative:
    • Their novel approach does not require gene editing, offering low costs, high tolerability and persistence of cells.

Meet the Co-Founders

From left to right:

Ajay Vishwakarma, DMD, MSc, MBA – CEO | Cell BioEngines, Inc.

Alexey Bersenev, MD, Ph.D. – CTO | Cell BioEngines, Inc.

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Paige Durham

SCbio is pleased to welcome Paige Durham to the team as communications coordinator to creatively and effectively communicate the value of the life science association’s programs and initiatives.

Durham will be responsible for developing and distributing high-quality content across multiple communications channels to build, advance and grow South Carolina’s life sciences industry, a key business sector for economic prosperity for the Palmetto State.

“SCbio is excited to welcome Paige to our team as our new communications coordinator. Paige brings fresh ideas and a strong background in communications that will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our engagement with our audience,” said SCbio President and CEO James Chappell. “We are confident that her skills and experience will be crucial in advancing our communication strategies and supporting our mission.”

Before joining SCbio, Durham was the Membership and Communications Manager at the South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA), where she used her photography, design and writing skills to create content tailored to pharmacy professionals. Durham’s effective communication skills guaranteed the delivery of brand-specific material that captured the eye of her audience.

During her time at SCPhA, Durham created and edited the Palmetto Pharmacist Journal, using her creative vision to showcase members, educational institutions and industry news. Her communications efforts successfully gained new followers for the organization over the course of a year, increasing brand visibility and promoting the pharmacy profession.

Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in hospitality and tourism management and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the College of Charleston.

Tamia Sumpter

Tamia is a driven senior undergraduate Bioengineering student currently enrolled at Clemson University. With a strong foundation in her field, she has honed her skills through hands-on experience in research and development at Eli Lilly & Company. During her time in the ADME department, Tamia contributed significantly by working on siRNAs and their applications in finding In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation (IVIVC). Looking ahead, Tamia has set her sights on a promising career in law. She aspires to specialize in Intellectual Property Law, with a particular focus on serving as in-house counsel for leading medical device or pharmaceutical companies. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable as she prepares to embark on her legal journey! She is also a proud member of the Omicron Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PEER Mentor for Clemson PEER/WiSE, and currently serves as the President of Clemson Bioengineering Organization (CBO). With her unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal interests, Tamia is poised to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and life sciences industries.