Cryoport and Minaris partner for advanced cell and gene therapy logistics

Temperature-controlled supply chain solutions firm Cryoport has partnered with cell and gene therapy specialist Minaris Regenerative Medicine to provide fully integrated logistics and manufacturing services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Specifically, the partnership will focus on logistics and services for regenerative medicine products to support the advancement of cell and gene therapies, which are procedures that involve altering the genes inside a body’s cells to treat or stop disease.

A lot of gene therapies need to be stabilised by cryogenic preservation during storage and transportation. Speaking to gasworld earlier this year, Cryoport’s President and CEO described cryogenics as the medium that maintains the temperature profile of the cellular materials.

Read more: How Cryoport stays ahead in delivering cell and gene therapies

Cryoport’s partnership with Minaris is with its Japan-based branch, but the pair have said that they will ensure the effort supports customers across the entire Manaris group.

The collaboration combines Cryoport’s capabilities and experience in meeting the logistics needs of the life sciences industry with Minaris’ expertise in contract manufacturing of regenerative medicine products, including stem cells, gene therapy, biomaterials, and engineered tissue.

Dr. Hiroto Bando, CEO of Minaris, said, “Ensuring secure transport, including the use and operation of specialised containers, as well as quality assurance, is essential for regenerative medicine products. By partnering with Cryoport, we will collaborate to provide high-quality services tailored to the exact needs of our customers.”

Speaking at the GAWDA Spring Management Conference earlier this year, Scott Rummans, Vice-President of US Packaged Gases at Linde, and Jeff Holyoak, Vice-President of Sales and Market Development at TOMCO Systems identified cold chain supply as a ‘megatrend’

Speaking at the three-day event, Holyoak said, “The cell and gene space is a great opportunity because when you transfer these therapies, it has to be done one unit at a time, and there are high volumes of product.”

He continued, “This has been new in the last ten years, but over the next decade you will see a huge transition in the biomedical space to these cell and gene therapies.”