A new cell and gene therapy point of care treatment facility at Johns Hopkins University, expected to open in 2023, has boosted both the state’s importance, as well as Baltimore’s importance as a lynchpin in the cell and gene therapy industry.
Orgenesis Inc. (NASDAQ: ORGS) (“Orgenesis” or the “Company”), a global biotech company working to unlock the full potential of cell and gene therapies, and The Johns Hopkins University, today announce the next phase of their collaboration. This new phase involves construction of a cell and gene therapy processing facility for point of care treatment of patients at Johns Hopkins which is planned to start in Q2 2022 and is expected to be operational in Q2 of 2023.
Luke Thorstenson, director of business development at cell and gene therapy and production technology firm Orgenesis, also says digitized manufacturing is key to production scaleup.
“A significant challenge in the production of pharma and biotech products is the automation and integration of individual manufacturing operations,” he tells GEN. “Transitioning from the current ‘analog’ labor-intensive manufacturing process to machine automated processes like those in our Orgenesis Mobile Processing Units and Labs (OMPULs) requires digitization and will allow for the same activities currently done manually by an operator to efficiently scale. We believe these steps are necessary to make life saving treatments like CAR-T available, accessible and affordable.”
Orgenesis Inc., a global biotech company working to unlock the full potential of cell and gene therapies, has appointed Luke Thorstenson as Director of Business Development. As Director of Business Development, his core responsibilities include setting the strategy for major Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) initiatives and implementing the Orgenesis point-of-care platform in the United States. In addition, he will identify global opportunities for growth and analyze the development of value creation units and business units. He will also manage and establish new partnerships with research institutions like Johns Hopkins University, including the launch of several CGT specific facilities here in Baltimore
The BHCR has become a burgeoning center for cell therapy development and manufacturing. As a result, a host of cell therapy companies chose to locate themselves within the region to capitalize on its many advantages.
