Cellistic, an expert in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-based cell therapies, has launched the Echo-NK platform to enable the scalable manufacturing of allogeneic cell therapies to target multiple diseases.

Natural Killer (NK) cells are increasingly leveraged in therapies for their ability to destroy harmful cancerous cells in their early stages, making them a promising option for the treatment of blood cancers, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases. Cellistic’s Echo-NK platform provides drug developers with a commercially viable solution for an Off-the-Shelf NK cell therapy.

Cellistic launched the Echo Platform in 2023 for the manufacture of iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapies. Building on this, the new solution offers a cost-effective, and feeder-free process for the scale-up and differentiation of iPSC cells into NK cells. All key expansion steps for the manufacturing of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and NK cells are performed in bioreactor closed systems operated within Cellistic’s EMA-certified GMP facility, providing significant economies of scale compared to 2D processes.

The Echo-NK platform also includes standardized unit operations for drug product manufacturing, encompassing filling, labeling and cryopreservation using automated processes and compliant manufacturing protocols. It also provides pre-validated QC testing methods that meet pharmacopoeia standards, and a rigorous approach to Quality Assurance to monitor operations and ensure reliable and compliant product release.

“Our new platform for NK cell manufacturing represents a paradigm shift in cell therapy,” says Tarran Pierfelice, Chief Commercial Officer at Cellistic. “With 15 years of experience in developing cell therapies, we enable scalable and cost-effective production, positioning us to support biotech and pharmaceutical companies in developing safe, potent, and off-the-shelf NK treatments for multiple applications.”

The Echo-NK platform, working with Cellistic’s Pulse cell line development capabilities and the proprietary STAR-CRISPR technology, enables the rapid development of stable iPSC cell lines. These cell lines incorporate the drug developer’s specific gene edits and are generated prior to Master Cell Bank (MCB) creation. Integrating these technologies under one platform accelerates timelines and delivers compliant and scalable processes for the reliable manufacture of NK treatments.