iBio (NYSE AMERICAN:IBIO) entered into an agreement with Lung Biotechnology, a subsidiary of United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR), to produce recombinant human collagen (rhCollagen)-based bioink for 3D bioprinted organ transplants.
“The decision by United Therapeutics to work with iBio for the production of rhCollagen bioinks in our FastPharming System provides yet another opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our platform, which has already been proven in the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, fusion proteins, virus-like particles, and other biologics,” Robert Kay, iBio’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
“We’re looking forward to helping United Therapeutics to successfully address the critical shortage of transplantable lungs and other organs,” Mr. Kay added.
iBio said it anticipates demand for commercial quantities of rhCollagen-based bioinks, and envisions additional projects focused on process optimization and capacity expansion, the latter of which will employ iBio’s Factory Solutions capabilities.
Tom Isett, a director of iBio, added, “The FastPharming System is ideally suited to the production of bioinks, maturogens, and other biologics for use in 3D bioprinting, so iBio will remain committed to delivering its safety, quality, performance and cost advantages to pioneers like United Therapeutics in the transformational, cutting-edge biofabrication industry.”
