Orgenesis Academy Graduates First Class of Cell and Gene Therapy Experts from theraCell Laboratories-backed Master’s Program
May 22 2023 - 7:30AM
Orgenesis Inc. (NASDAQ: ORGS) (“Orgenesis” or the “Company”), a
global biotech company working to unlock the full potential of cell
and gene therapies (CGTs), today announced the first graduating
class from a unique Master of Science degree program in Cell and
Gene Therapies, sponsored by the Company’s joint venture, theraCell
Laboratories. The bi-institutional program, resulting in a degree
through the University of Patras School of Medicine and the
University of West Attica Department of Biomedical Sciences,
launched in February 2022 to develop scientists with the knowledge
and skills to accommodate increasing demand from the burgeoning CGT
field. Of the ten graduates, the majority received immediate offers
and progressed their careers in the field, including 4 at theraCell
Laboratories itself.
Multiple approved CGTs have demonstrated that this new class of
medicines can treat or even cure intractable diseases, typically
with a single dose. But the number of patients in need has already
outstripped the biopharma industry’s capacity to train them, in
part due to the small pool of experienced scientists with the
expertise needed to perform the highly complex development and
manufacturing processes. New technologies like the Orgenesis Mobile
Processing Units and Labs™ (“OMPULs™”) can reduce the heavy manual
burden associated with centralized production. But as regulators
expect to soon be approving dozens of CGT per year, the need for
CGT expertise will continue to grow.
“We are proud of this first class of graduates, who have stepped
into a field where their training will immediately be leveraged to
improve access to advanced therapies,” said Vered Caplan, CEO of
Orgenesis. “As a global company dedicated to enabling more experts
in a variety of settings to help patients, we look for
opportunities outside of our own labs to share knowledge, as we
strive to meet our responsibility to those with high unmet medical
needs.”
The Cell and Gene Therapies MSc program is part of The Orgenesis
Academy, a global initiative and one of only a handful of programs
in the world targeted to meet this need, and its broad applicant
pool reflects the intense global interest in the rigorous program.
The curriculum, developed by the Universities in conjunction with
theraCell Laboratories to meet the requirements of the field,
covers all aspects of CGT with the purpose of training graduate
scientists with various backgrounds in the fields of production,
distribution, clinical evaluation and clinical implementation of
CGTs, as well as to study both the biological substrate of CGTs and
the regulatory framework for their production and application. The
course also includes training in basic cell biology, lab techniques
and statistics.
Coursework is supplemented with weekly lectures and assignments
from subject matter expert speakers invited from around the world,
aligned with key topics of interest to the field, as well as
hands-on experience under real GMP lab conditions at University of
Patras’ Institute of Cell Therapy “Dimitris Lois” and theraCell
Laboratories. By combining theory and practice, students regularly
engage in the direct application of skills, theories, and
procedures related to the development of CGTs.
“We celebrate the early success of the Cell and Gene Therapies
program, and look forward to expanding and improving it further,
informed by an open dialogue with the students,” said Prof.
Alexandros Spyridonidis, Director of the Cell and Gene Therapies
MSc program and Professor of Hematology at the University of
Patras. “Future classes will train up to 30 scientists at a time
for crucial work in academic, clinical, industrial and regulatory
settings, making sure the sector can keep up with patients’ need
for these life-saving medicines.”
For more information about the Cell and Gene Therapies MSc
program, part of The Orgenesis Academy, visit
www.mastercgt.com.
About OrgenesisOrgenesis is a global biotech
company working to unlock the full potential of cell and gene
therapies (CGTs) in an affordable and accessible format at the
point of care. The Orgenesis POCare Platform is comprised of three
enabling components: a pipeline of licensed POCare Therapeutics
that are processed and produced in closed, automated POCare
Technology systems across a collaborative POCare Network. Orgenesis
identifies promising new therapies and leverages its POCare
Platform to provide a rapid, globally harmonized pathway for these
therapies to reach and treat large numbers of patients at lowered
costs through efficient, scalable, and decentralized production.
The POCare Network brings together patients, doctors, industry
partners, research institutes and hospitals worldwide to achieve
harmonized, regulated clinical development and production of the
therapies. www.orgenesis.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis
press release contains forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These
forward-looking statements involve substantial uncertainties and
risks and are based upon our current expectations, estimates and
projections and reflect our beliefs and assumptions based upon
information available to us at the date of this release. We caution
readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on
our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject
to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Our actual results, performance or achievements could
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors,
including, but not limited to, our reliance on, and our ability to
grow, our point-of-care cell therapy platform and OMPUL business,
our ability to achieve and maintain overall profitability, our
ability to manage our research and development programs that are
based on novel technologies, our ability to control key elements
relating to the development and commercialization of therapeutic
product candidates with third parties, the timing of completion of
clinical trials and studies, the availability of additional data,
outcomes of clinical trials of our product candidates, the
potential uses and benefits of our product candidates, our ability
to manage potential disruptions as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic, the sufficiency of working capital to realize our
business plans and our ability to raise additional capital, the
development of our POCare strategy, our trans differentiation
technology as therapeutic treatment for diabetes, the technology
behind our in-licensed ATMPs not functioning as expected, our
ability to further our CGT development projects, either directly or
through our JV partner agreements, and to fulfill our obligations
under such agreements, our license agreements with other
institutions, our ability to retain key employees, our competitors
developing better or cheaper alternatives to our products, risks
relating to legal proceedings against us and the risks and
uncertainties discussed under the heading "RISK FACTORS" in Item 1A
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021, and in our other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update
any forward-looking statement for any reason.
IR contact for Orgenesis:Crescendo
Communications, LLCTel: 212-671-1021Orgs@crescendo-ir.com
Communications contact for OrgenesisIB
CommunicationsNeil Hunter / Michelle BoxallTel +44 (0)20 8943
4685orgenesis@ibcomms.agency
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