The US Patent Office (USPTO) has granted Morphocell Technologies patent number US11096388 that covers the use of its Encapsulated Liver Tissue as part of a bioartificial liver system and perfusion bioreactor.

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he invention is based on Morphocell’ stem cell-derived Encapsulated Liver Tissue (ELT) core technology, which the company is developing for the treatment of liver failure and severe liver diseases. Generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), Morphocell’s engineered liver tissues are uniquely capable of acquiring fully mature liver functions in vitro. The company is developing the ELT into a family of therapeutic products to address unmet clinical needs in the field of liver disease. The first product, ReLiver®ELT, is an allogeneic regenerative medicine product for transient implantation in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). In preclinical studies, ReLiver®ELT increased survival, treated hepatic encephalopathy and accelerated the regeneration of the recipient’s own liver, all without the need of immunosuppression. Morphocell is now working towards a first-in-human clinical trial with ReLiver®ELT.

 

The invention covered by the issued patent concerns a Bioartificial Liver Device (BALD). By taking advantage of the mature liver functions provided by the incorporated ELT, Morphocell’s BALD will allow for treating patients with liver failure (not only ALF and ACLF but also chronic liver failure and single enzyme deficiencies) through extracorporeal blood filtration. Currently available options for extracorporeal liver replacement therapy haven’t meet the clinical needs yet. Nevertheless, extracorporeal blood filtration is becoming standard of care in most tertiary liver centers for patients with severe ALF and ACLF. The unique features of the ELT are expected to provide a distinctive competitive advantage to Morphocell’s BALD in terms of efficacy, safety and logistics, making it a promising approach that would easily integrate with currently available technologies. 

 

“We are pleased that the USPTO has recognized the uniqueness of our ELT-based technology and granted this patent. Morphocell Technologies is a young company, and this patent is the first of our IP portfolio to be granted” said Dr. Massimiliano Paganelli, co-founder and CEO of Morphocell Technologies. “This patent strengthens our leading position in the liver regenerative medicine space and expands the potential of our cell therapy platform.” 

 

Morphocell will develop the ELT-based BALD as part of its therapeutic pipeline.

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