BioTime Establishes Cell Therapy Mnfg. Center in Israel

BioTime, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercializing products addressing degenerative diseases, and its majority-owned subsidiary, Cell Cure Neurosciences, have dedicated a new, 800 square-meter, state-of-the-art, cGMP manufacturing center located in the Jerusalem Bio Park on the campus of Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem.

The new manufacturing center, initially to be staffed by 25-30 employees, is equipped to produce a range of cell therapies for the treatment of various degenerative human diseases. In the near term, the plan is to supply OpRegen for the company’s ongoing clinical trial program for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, or dry AMD.

"The opening of this new, innovative manufacturing center, demonstrates our continued commitment and is the culmination of a multi-year effort by BioTime and its subsidiary, Cell Cure Neurosciences, to manufacture cell therapies in Israel on an industrial scale," said Adi Mohanty, co-chief executive officer, BioTime. "Near-term, this new center will manufacture OpRegen doses to treat the patients enrolled in the clinical trial program. Longer term, this center may manufacture additional cell therapies as our products progress into clinical trials and then into commercial distribution."

Charles Irving, chief executive officer, Cell Cure Neurosciences, said, "The opening of this new manufacturing center is an exciting and important development. Our team in Israel together with BioTime is advancing the OpRegen clinical trial program and the manufacture of OpRegen. We look forward to continued close collaboration with BioTime as it advances additional cell therapy programs in the near future."