Lonza has expanded its renowned human stem cell offerings to provide human cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (CB-CD34+ HSCs) in large batch sizes, meeting a critical and rapidly expanding market need. Lots in a range of sizes are also now available with high-resolution HLA-type information, removing the requirement for cumbersome HLA screening after lot purchase. CB-CD34+ HSCs are the preferred cell choice for creating humanized mouse models, which are critical for preclinical safety testing of a range of immunotherapies. The new offering enables mouse model developers and researchers to increase cohort sizes for bolstered model-creating capacity, simplify HLA-matched model creation, and unlock unprecedented cost and time efficiencies.
Humanized mice are a powerful tool for exploring how novel cancer biotherapies interact with a human-specific immune system comprising different and interacting cell types. Across the market, there is a lack of large batch sizes of these cells, restricting the number of humanized mice that can be generated per cell lot. In addition, to maximize in vivo predictivity and accuracy of results, it is beneficial for mouse models to be carefully HLA matched to the grafted tumor tissue. Without ready-typed cells available, companies face lengthy in-house HLA screening that can add weeks to timelines, with no guarantee that an unscreened batch will contain the desired HLA type.
Now, leveraging its longstanding expertise and heavy investment in primary cell isolation, Lonza is able to offer a reliable and consistent supply of large-batch CB-CD34+ HSCs, as well as ready-typed cell lots in various sizes. As a result, customers can create larger mouse model cohorts of the exact HLA-type they need, expanding testing throughput capabilities and unlocking predictive results more quickly and at a significantly lower cost. The breadth of Lonza’s inventory will also allow researchers to obtain all their CB-CD34+ HSCs from a single supplier, ensuring consistency and reliable quality in their processes.
Aurita Menezes, Global Product Manager, Lonza, commented: “Isolating high-purity CD34+ stem cells from cord blood is incredibly complex, leaving most vendors unable to deliver the lot size and continuous supply required — even without HLA typing. Lonza’s technological know-how in this domain means it is leading the market with this new offering. Through this, we’re uniquely placed to accelerate routes to success for customers, further bolstering our ability to help deliver safe and affordable biotherapies to patients faster.”
Lonza’s large cell lots are guaranteed to be >90% purity, contain ≥2 million viable cells in the lot, and come complete with a certificate of analysis. HLA-typed CB-CD34+ HSC lots are screened using gold-standard next-generation sequencing, providing higher-resolution HLA information that minimizes the risk of mismatches common with standard, low-resolution serological typing methods. Cell customers will also receive Lonza’s renowned global technical support, ensuring they can quickly overcome hurdles and achieve optimal outcomes in their mouse model creation.
About Lonza
Lonza is the preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets. We work to enable a healthier world by supporting our customers to deliver new and innovative medicines that help treat a wide range of diseases. We achieve this by combining technological insight with world-class manufacturing, scientific expertise and process excellence. Our unparalleled breadth of offerings enables our customers to commercialize their discoveries and innovations in the healthcare industry.
Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, today, Lonza operates across five continents. With approximately 16,000 employees (full-time-equivalent), we comprise high-performing teams and individual talent who make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as to the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 5.4 billion with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.7 billion in Full-Year 2021.
