MaStherCell incorporation : a step forward to industrialization of cell therapy in Europe

Gosselies, Belgium, November 4, 2011 : Boosted by the Wallonia government authorities and Biowin, MaStherCell , an innovative cGMP contract manufacturing platform, just took off the ground. It has been designed for the clinical and commercial production of cellular therapy products. The new company will settle early 2012 in a brand new structure of the Charleroi Brussels South Biopark and manage 650 sqm of offices and clean room facilities.

The founding of MaStherCell derives from the indisputable observation that there is not enough stem cell production capacity”, says Jean-Paul Prieels, CEO.”Companies specializing in regenerative medicine or cell therapy meet hurdles to start pre commercial Phase III clinical trials and thus launch their new products.”

The potential of cell therapy in terms of health care and employment no doubt was also a key factor in the decision. Since the last ten years, cell therapy has been booming worldwide and may well be the therapeutic approach of the future, that some have already dubbed “the fourth pillar of medicine.”

“The turnover of the cell therapy sector is growing fast and continuously”, confirms Didier Argentin, MaStherCell’ s CBO “and we intend to be among the major players of the sector.”

François Lesage, CFO, adds : “In order to sustain its development, MaStherCell has secured funding over 5 million euros, part of it coming from the company’s management team, from Brussels university through Theodorus investment Funds, from regional investors ( Sofipôle and Sambrinvest) and from Artelis cofounders. “A sharp increase in the company’s workforce is expected to follow “, explains Patrick Stragier, COO, the staff should reach 15 people by the end of 2012 and 50 by 2019, when MaSthercell will be one European leader.”

For further information, please contact :

Didier Argentin, CBO,

8, rue Adrienne Bolland B-6041