Cellular Intelligence acquires Novo Nordisk's Parkinson's cell therapy

Investing.com -- Cellular Intelligence, backed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has acquired a cell therapy candidate for Parkinson's disease from Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, the biotech firm announced Monday.

Novo Nordisk discontinued the therapy's development last October when it shut down its cell therapy unit during a broader restructuring.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Novo Nordisk will receive an equity stake in Cellular Intelligence and could receive future milestone payments and royalties, according to the biotech firm.

The treatment, STEM-PD, is an allogeneic, stem cell-derived therapy designed to replace dopamine-producing nerve cells lost in Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a progressive brain disorder that leads to symptoms including tremors, stiffness and slow movement.

Cellular Intelligence said it plans to apply its proprietary AI platform to accelerate the treatment's development, scale manufacturing and reduce costs. The data will be used to train the AI model further.

"It marks the beginning of an AI-native era for cell replacement therapy, one where biology is no longer destiny, but design," said Cellular Intelligence CEO Micha Breakstone.

The treatment is being tested in an early-to-mid stage trial and has received fast-track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a status meant to expedite the review of therapies for serious conditions with unmet medical needs.

Cellular Intelligence has raised more than $60 million from investors including Khosla Ventures and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization founded by Zuckerberg.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Lockheed Martin wins $2.8B in Defense contracts for F-35, helicopters
• JFM Sports Inc. Announces Full Identification of Historic 1920s Montreal Canadiens Portrait Collection After Decades of Mystery
• 22nd Century Group files prospectus for warrant share resale