- Data demonstrate ability of Satellite Bio’s technology to produce, at scale, expandable and functionally mature hepatocytes derived from primary cells (REGN-HEPS)
- REGN-HEPS engraft and function similarly to primary hepatocytes, both in vitro and in vivo
- Support further exploration of Tissue Therapeutics as an intervention for advanced liver disease
WATERTOWN, MA., May 7, 2024 – Satellite Bio, a preclinical stage biotechnology company pioneering Tissue Therapeutics to unlock the full potential of liver cells as medicine, today announced it will present new preclinical data demonstrating the Company’s ability to generate a sustainable source of primary cell-derived hepatocytes that expand, mature and function like primary hepatocytes. These data will be presented in an oral presentation at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 2024 Annual Meeting being held May 7-11, 2024, in Baltimore, MD.
While cell therapies have shown promise as a potential solution for the millions of people affected by advanced liver disease[i], the widespread use of primary hepatocytes is severely limited by their availability, and stem cell-derived hepatocytes have yet to achieve in vivo functionality comparable to adult hepatocytes. [ii]
Building on insights from developmental biology and liver regeneration, Satellite Bio honed innovative technology that produces REGEN-HEPS (Regenerative Expansion, Growth, and ENgraftment of primary HEPatocyteS), a novel source of primary cell-derived hepatocytes that combine expansive growth with the retention of mature hepatocyte phenotype and functions.
“At Satellite, we are addressing major obstacles that have historically hindered the use of hepatocytes as therapy, including the ability to generate a sustainable source of mature cells,” said Alireza Rezania, PhD, chief scientific officer, Satellite Bio. “These data demonstrate how our proprietary protocols allow us to effectively isolate, expand and mature primary hepatocytes in-house. This scalable, cGMP-compatible, first-of-its kind process yields mature cells, known as REGEN-HEPS, capable of effective engraftment and, importantly, that are nearly indistinguishable from primary hepatocytes in terms of function.”
Presentation details and abstract highlights include:
Title: REGEN-HEPS: Expandable and Functional Hepatocytes Derived from Primary Cells
Abstract: #369
Session: Other Cellular and Regenerative Therapies
Date and Time: May 11, 2024, 11:00-11:15 AM EDT
Location: Ballroom 1
- Effectively expanded primary human hepatocytes from multiple donors, with 36 percent (4 out of 11) showing more than 20-fold expansion in the first passage
- Post-expansion, cells retained key hepatocyte lineage markers, HNF4α and albumin, ensuring preservation of cellular identity
- Successfully engineered REGEN-HEPS with high transduction efficiency (94 percent), which is typically unattainable with standard, non-cycling primary human hepatocytes (PHH)
- In a three-dimensional culture, REGEN-HEPS demonstrated functional capacities on par with PHHs across both synthetic and metabolic functions
- REGEN-HEPS exhibited robust repopulation abilities in vivo within the FRG mouse model, markedly outperforming iPSC-derived hepatocytes, highlighting potential for future clinical applications
"For people with advanced liver disease, the shortage of available organs, combined with the high complexity and risks of surgery, makes transplantation an unrealistic option for over 85 percent of those in need," said Laura Lande-Diner, PhD, president and chief business officer, Satellite Bio. "By developing a scalable and sustainable source of REGEN-HEPS, we can potentially treat a thousand patients from just a single organ. Tissue Therapeutics represents a significant opportunity to treat the many individuals who tragically miss out on liver transplants each year."
About Satellite Bio
Satellite Bio is a preclinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the next generation of regenerative medicine, Tissue Therapeutics, by harnessing the dynamic and powerful therapeutic potential of solid organ cells. The Satellite Adaptive Tissue (SAT) Platform leverages three key technological innovations to unlock the broad application of solid organ cells as therapeutic agents: expansion, seed formation and stabilization. Its lead programs aim to enable the delivery and durable engraftment of expanded, mature hepatocyte cells to augment or replace liver function. To learn more, visit satellite.bio.
Contacts
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[i]
Everhart+, NIDDK, 2008
[ii] Zhang+, Cell Stem Cell, 2018