Matica Biolabs expands CDMO business into regenerative medicine

Matica Biolabs (CEO Min Byung-jo) is expanding its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business into the regenerative medicine sector.

A subsidiary of CHA Biotech, Matica handles domestic cell and gene therapy (CGT) CDMO operations. The company has signed a CDMO manufacturing agreement with regenerative medicine firm Asregen (CEO Wang Jun-ho) to produce Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSC). Under the deal, Matica will develop the isolation process and handle manufacturing of WJ-MSC for use in research on an articular cartilage regeneration treatment Asregen is developing. Asregen focuses on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering technologies for joint tissue repair. The company is currently conducting preclinical research on a regenerative therapy that uses WJ-MSC to regulate the damaged microenvironment within joints and promote cartilage regeneration.

The partnership expands Matica's CDMO business into stem cell-based regenerative medicine. "We will support research and development in the regenerative medicine field by leveraging our cell therapy process development and manufacturing capabilities," CEO Min said Monday. "We will produce high-quality cells to back Asregen's preclinical research."

Meanwhile, Wharton's jelly is a gelatinous tissue inside the umbilical cord that surrounds the umbilical blood vessels. WJ-MSC has drawn attention as a promising cell source in regenerative medicine for its strong proliferative capacity and tissue regeneration potential.