PL BioScience and DewCell Partner on Artificial Human Platelets

PL BioScience GmbH and Korean biotech company DewCell Biotherapeutics have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on developing and supplying artificial human platelets for cell culture media. This partnership aims to advance the production of scalable, animal-free cell culture media, addressing the increasing demand driven by regulatory trends and developments in cell and gene therapy.

DewCell will provide artificial platelets to support PL BioScience’s Human Platelet Lysate (HPL) solutions. This collaboration marks a significant step towards replacing conventional animal-derived products with synthetic options, adhering to global shifts by regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA towards animal-origin-free solutions.

DewCell utilizes a system to produce platelets by differentiating stem cells into megakaryocytes. The agreement follows a previous Memorandum of Understanding and aims to meet the global need for animal-free cell culture media.