On March 14, 2018, ThermoGenesis, the device subsidiary of Cesca Therapeutics (Nasdaq: KOOL), signed a license agreement with IncoCell Tianjin Ltd., for CAR-T related and other Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services.

Cesca, ThermoGenesis and IncoCell are all affiliates of China-based Boyalife Group, suggesting that Boyalife is working to expand Cesca’s device business, including Cesca’s novel CAR-TXpress™ technology platform, into several Asia Pacific markets.

Under the terms of the agreement, ThermoGenesis has granted IncoCell an exclusive license to purchase and use Cesca’s X-Series™ cellular processing research devices, consumables and kits for use in the conduct of its CDMO operations in certain Asia Pacific countries. In exchange, ThermoGenesis is entitled to a percentage of IncoCell’s gross contract development revenues, including any potential upfront payments, future milestones or royalty payments.

“China is among the leading markets for CAR-T developers, and together with the U.S., represent the two countries with the highest number of ongoing CAR-T clinical trials,” said Dr. Chris Xu, the president of Boyalife Group. “This agreement with IncoCell signifies our first CDMO collaboration, and is consistent with our goal of expanding beyond off-the-shelf cellular processing solutions into higher-value contract manufacturing and development services. Moving forward, we plan to pursue additional CDMO collaborations in selected markets while executing global distribution and other strategic partnering agreements for our highly differentiated X-Series line of products.”

Territories covered under the IncoCell agreement include the People’s Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.