University of Freiburg spin-off gets €1.1m of seed capital for its cell separator
Cytena will focus on further developing the platform technology for cancer and prenatal testing units as well as units for the production of cell therapeutic drugs
A consortium made up of a private investor and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), will provide €1.1m of seed capital enabling Freiburg-based university spin-off Cytena to launch and market its new product cy-Clone.
The cy-Clone is a laboratory device that enables the gentle separation of cells. To set up its marketing and distribution channels and to standardise its production processes, the company required start-up capital. The seed capital raised will enable the company to transition from producing each cy-Clone unit and its consumables individually to serial production. At the same time, the company’s marketing and distribution channels will be widened.
‘Currently, we are in particularly close contact with cell line development units in the pharmaceutical industry, e.g. for biologicals and with researchers in the field of single-cell analyses. Obviously, efficiency and cell viability are key, but quite often these customers also need to fulfill the requirements set by regulatory bodies such as the FDA,’ said André Gross, Founding Member and Technical Director of Cytena.
‘Our competitors’ systems are complex and expensive, and cannot prove clonality or safeguard against cross-contamination. In addition, a substantial amount of training is required to operate them.
‘Users wanting to avoid all of these complications and inconveniences should use our unique technology,’ Gross added.
Cytena will focus on further developing the platform technology for cancer and prenatal testing units as well as units for the production of cell therapeutic drugs, thus unlocking a much larger market.
