Cellumed and ARTES Sign Development and License Agreement

Today, Cellumed Co. Ltd., listed stock market company and Germany based ARTES Biotechnology GmbH announce the execution of a Development and License Agreement aiming at the generation of microbial production cell lines, processes and documentation for the cGMP manufacturing of two enzymes required in the manufacturing process of mRNA vaccines.

Under this agreement, ARTES shall be responsible for the development of high yield microbial cell lines expressing two recombinant enzymes. Further steps at ARTES will include the development of up- and downstream processes as well as of the analytical assays to characterize the two products. Results will be transferred by ARTES to its German CMO partner Richter-Helm BioLogics GmbH & Co. KG for subsequent cGMP production. The project management will be supported by ARTES´ Korean representative Quality by Design, Inc.

Cellumed predicts that the mRNA platform will gradually expand product development in the future as a base technology with high potential for developing other vaccines and therapeutics even after COVID-19 subsides. Therefore, Cellumed will realize technological independence of materials through the localization of production enzymes, which are key raw materials for mRNA vaccines. In addition, it is planning to supply production enzymes in Korea first, and is also planning to gradually advance into the global market.

Statement of Dr. Michael Piontek, Managing Director of ARTES Biotechnology: “We are very proud being chosen by Cellumed for this important task of supporting the establishment of most up-to-date mRNA technology in South-Korea. We will contribute our long term experience in recombinant biotechnology and will give all our outstanding expertise and know-how in this collaboration. We are looking forward to building a strong and long lasting relation with Cellumed.”

About Cellumed

Cellumed is leading the field of tissue graft materials based on human-derived biomaterials, leading the localization of artificial joints and succeeding in establishing a recombinant protein production system that cultivates a large amount of growth factors for treatment. In addition, it is the best musculoskeletal medical device specialist in Korea, developing various products by combining excellent biotechnology and biomaterials and leading to high value-added of existing products.
Cellumed was established in 1997 under the corporate philosophy of ‘respect for human beings’ and received approval for establishment of a human tissue bank from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2005. Cellumed's human tissue bank is processed and distributed into safe and excellent tissue graft materials by specialized researchers.  Products are continuously researched and developed.
Cellumed succeeded in developing and mass-producing rhBMP2, a recombinant protein derived from animal cells (CHO Cell), for the first time in Asia and for the second time in the world. In addition to rhBMP2, we have also succeeded in developing various recombinant protein growth factors such as BMP4, BMP7, GDF5, TGF-ß1, and FGF7 so that more people can lead a healthy life. We will become the most competitive global bio company in the world through innovative bio product portfolios.

About ARTES

ARTES Biotechnology GmbH is a Germany-based company specialized in recombinant protein production, process and vaccine (VLP-based) development from microbial expression systems. ARTES offers generation of optimized production cell lines in proprietary yeast expression systems based on Hansenula polymorpha and in bacteria. In addition to genetic engineering, the company provides fermentation and downstream process development, analytical assay development and production cell line characterization. ARTES operates worldwide from its 850 sqm S1 facilities in Langenfeld.

Published by B3C newswire