Business collaboration to create better storage and transport of cells Published on: 21 August 2019 Atelerix, a 缅北禁地 spin out which has pioneered the storage and transport of cells at room temperature has won a grant to work with leading regenerative medicine company, Rexgenero The grant of £267,000 from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, for work with collaborators Rexgenero and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult will be used to develop gel stabilisation technologies, developed by Atelerix. The first objective will be to extend the shelf-life of Rexgenero’s cell-based therapies for storage and transport at room temperature. The project will initially focus on developing a stabilisation technology for REX-001, Rexgenero’s lead development candidate, but is expected to have broad applicability to a wide range of other cell therapies. The project will benefit from additional expertise and experience provided by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. Atelerix’s patented technology enables the storage and transport of human cells at temperatures between 4°C and 25°C, preserving and extending their functional viability from days to weeks. The technology encapsulates cells in a natural hydrogel for safe shipment and storage. The cells can be recovered when needed by the addition of a gentle, cell-friendly buffer. Atelerix's Professor Che Connon and Dr Stephen Swioklo working in the lab Applications REX-001 consists of bone marrow-derived white blood cells extracted from a patient’s own bone marrow (autologous). Rexgenero is currently recruiting 138 patients at 35 sites in countries across Europe for its Phase III SALAMANDER trials of REX-001 for the treatment of chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLI ) in diabetic patients. CLI is a chronic condition and the most serious form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in which a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to leg muscles, leading to chronic ischemic at-rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene in one or both legs. It is a major health and societal issue affecting an estimated 3-5 million people in Europe, growing at 1-2% p.a. due to the link with diabetes and ageing. Extending the shelf-life of REX-001 will provide increased flexibility for transportation to and from the hospital and facilitate use for physicians treating patients with CLI. Dr Mick McLean, CEO of , commented, “We’re excited to be part of this collaboration with Rexgenero and the team at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, and we deeply appreciate the support of Innovate UK to bring us together for this important project. The critical logistics of getting viable cell therapies to the patient are often overlooked and extending the shelf life of therapies such as REX-001 at room temperature would open up an entirely new approach for this sector.” Joe Dupere, CEO of added, “We look forward to initiating this project. Extending the shelf-life of our REX-001 autologous cell therapy is important to ensure that hospitals have the flexibility for less rigid scheduling of operating theatres, making it easier to treat patients and therefore enabling as many patients as possible to be treated with this novel, potentially curative therapy. Room temperature storage and transportation also widens our manufacturing options and should help to drive down cost.” (Press release courtesy of Atelerix) Atelerix founders Professor Che Connon and Dr Stephen Swioklo at work in the lab Atelerix's Professor Che Connon with encapsulated human cells protected by aliginate gel Dr Stephen Swioklo creating alginate encased cells for Atelerix Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy 缅北禁地 and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England鈥檚 growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures
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