Banking on the placenta

Celgene Corp. spinout Celularity Inc. is aiming to disrupt the stem cell market with a platform of placenta-based cell therapies whose intrinsic allo-tolerance could provide a broadly applicable system for propelling off-the-shelf cancer therapies into the clinic. The newco disclosed today it has amassed more than $250 million in funding and assets, a rich IP portfolio and a list of banner names in its leadership team.

Celgene is joined by Sorrento Therapeutics Inc., United Therapeutics Corp., Human Longevity Inc. and undisclosed private investors, who announced an undisclosed series A round in August. The four companies own about a 50% stake in the company between them, and are providing access to core technologies to support Celularity’s platform. ...