IcoCell− Chassis for Enhanced Mammalian Cell Line Development and Engineering

Project Information

IcoCell

Grant agreement ID: 663613

DOI

10.3030/663613

Project closed

EC signature date 16 March 2015

Start date 1 April 2015

End date 30 September 2015

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ICOSAGEN CELL FACTORY OU
Estonia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IcoCell (IcoCell− Chassis for Enhanced Mammalian Cell Line Development and Engineering)

Reporting period: 2015-04-01 to 2015-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Icosagen Cell Factory (ICF) is developing a cell chassis (IcoCell) for more efficient and cost-effective development of mammalian cell lines for the production of proteins for biopharmaceutical development. The overall objective of the feasibility study was to elaborate a business plan in order to verify the technological/practical as well as economic viability of the IcoCell development. This required estimating market potential, mapping state-of-the-art alternatives, assessing freedom-to-operate, developing an intellectual property protection plan, evaluating potential socio-economic impacts, finding a partner for strategic collaboration, determine a business development strategy, and preparing a SME Instrument Phase 2 proposal (if justified based on the results of the feasibility study).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The market research confirmed that with the increase in mammalian cell-expressed recombinant biotherapeutics, the process of accelerating the selection of generated stable mammalian cell lines has become a critical step in cell line development pipelines. The situation and trends in the market fully favour the commercialization and commercial potential of the IcoCell technology due to its advantages. Analysis of state-of-the-art in the field confirmed the advantages of the IcoCell technology compared to other relevant technologies provided or used by Lonza, Selexis, Catalent, Rentschler and Cobra Bio.
Freedom-to-operate analysis demonstrated that ICF is able to commercialize the invention. Furthermore, ICF is not only free to use the invention, but can also protect the invention by patenting.
Although the key insights gained during the market analysis did not imply any major changes to the initially outlined business strategy, target groups and the logic of planned strategic collaboration were elaborated. For strategic collaboration foreseen by business strategy, ICF contacted, visited and held discussions with two potential partners. Both companies expressed high interest and gave their consent for strategic collaboration with ICF, to be formally signed in the second half of the planned Phase II project.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Altogether, the feasibility study confirmed the economic and technical viability of the IcoCell development, so that a Phase II proposal reflecting all results of the feasibility study, including development workplan and resource requirements, has been prepared and is to be submitted.

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