Advanced Therapies 2021 | Advanced cell selection for the manufacture of ProTrans cell therapy

Mathias Svahn, PhD, MScEng, NextCell Pharma AB, Huddinge, Sweden, describes the cell selection and manufacturing process for ProTrans, an umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapeutic currently being investigated for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. He discusses the use of potency assays and a proprietary selection algorithm to support the identification of optimal donors and the selection of cells with high potency and efficacy based on functionality, immune cell interaction and signaling. In addition, the use of pooled MSCs from multiple donors enhances reproducibility and cells are only cultured for three passages in order to preserve cell potency. This interview took place at the Advanced Therapies Congress & Expo 2021.