Philadelphia Biotech Executive Ready to take Promising Stem Cell therapy to the Clinic
Kyttaro Therapeutics COO, Eric Hacherl, announces intention to establish a Philadelphia-based R&D operation to quickly take their lead product into Phase I-II trials in Germany and the US.
By Chris Frew | September 25, 2023
| BioBuzz has been connecting the life science workforce since 2009. We’ve built an expansive community in the Mid-Atlantic with a national readership that spans from Massachusettes to Florida, and New York to California. For our next chapter, we’re building a proprietary talent logistics model to help employers source and hire life science talent. Learn more. |
Following his last role as VP and Head of Manufacturing at Spark Therapeutics, Eric Hacherl has joined Kyttaro Therapeutics, a new stem cell therapeutics startup, as COO to help take their lead product into Phase 1 clinical trials. Hacherl has made a name for himself through his accomplished 25-year career at large, industry-leading companies such as Merck, Noramco, Catalent, and Spark. The move to a startup company may be new to him, but he brings a wealth of know-how and relationships to make a real impact.
Kyttaro Therapeutics is commercializing several genetically modified mesenchymal stem cell lines with target applications in Graft vs Host Disease, CAR T-cell therapy, and Diabetes, among others. Their lead product for graft versus host disease (GvHD) is an MSC modified to produce the acute-phase alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein. Preclinical experiments have shown superior results to naive stem cell or AAT therapy alone for GvHD and type 1 diabetes mellitus and lung diseases.
Hacherl joined a panel at the recent Philly BuildsBio+ event to introduce the new company and discuss what makes Philadelphia a great ecosystem for commercializing Innovations into products. “I am a Philadelphia area resident, and wherever I am with my computer bag is where Kyttaro is,” he shared. “What we are looking to do is start an R&D lab, so we’re looking closely at the incubator spaces such as Biolabs, B-labs and CIC to establish our home base in Philadelphia.”
Kyttaro’s proven expertise and intellectual property consists of 58 patents for cutting-edge applications for genetically modified stem cells, including MSC Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (MSC-AAT), MSC Cytokines (MSC-Cyt), and MSC Longevity (MSC-Klotho). The IP was acquired from Apceth Biopharma GmbH as part of a deal with Hitachi Chemical, who purchased a cell manufacturing operation for $90M from Apceth but wasn’t interested in the pre-commercial assets.
With so much research and development already accomplished for the three MSC cell lines, Kyttaro is a company poised to move fast and well-positioned to initiate clinical trials in the US in the near-future. “We are ready to mobilize this IP with the first product that was already close to starting a phase I-II clinical study in Germany for Graft vs Host Disease”, shared Hacherl.
Nancy J Kelley + Associates (NJK+A), along with strategic scientific and business partners, founded Kyttaro Therapeutics and acquired exclusive license to the patent portfolio, as well as access to all relevant know-how. With a strong Scientific Advisory Board, collaborations with a global clinical research organization for clinical trial management, and reputable clinical partners from renowned US universities, Kyttaro is well positioned to commercialize its technology.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Over the past 11 years, Chris has grown BioBuzz into a respected brand that is recognized for its community building, networking events and news stories about the local biotech industry. In addition, he runs a Recruiting and Marketing Agency that helps companies attract top talent through a blended model that combines employer branding and marketing services together with a high powered recruiting solution.
