Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies Merges Therapeutics Units to Enhance Patient Care Across Treatment Journey

New Global Therapy Innovations business unit, led by Veerle d’Haenens, aims to unify therapeutic apheresis and cell and gene therapy expertise to expand therapeutic possibilities

Lakewood, CO – 12 November 2024 – Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a medical technology company, today announced the launch of its new Global Therapy Innovations business unit, designed to integrate disease expertise based on the many ways the company interacts across the patient journey, from cell collections to manufacturing and delivering therapies. Led by Veerle d'Haenens, General Manager, Global Therapy Innovations, it aims to advance standards of care across the patient journey and to develop a coordinated system of modalities within each disease area, for example, continuing work on both therapeutic apheresis and cell and gene therapy work to treat sickle cell disease (SCD).

Global Therapy Innovations will streamline internal and external knowledge sharing to optimize interactions with patients and customers who view their experiences with the company’s solutions and therapies as one journey. A key enabler will be leveraging data from multiple platforms, including the Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System, Quantum Flex™ Cell Expansion System, and FINIA™ Fill and Finish System. These systems are tools used in therapies such as red blood cell exchange, an apheresis procedure used to treat sickle cell disease, and for the development, manufacturing and deployment of cutting-edge cell and gene therapies (CGTs).

“We are now ideally situated as a singular partner, with a holistic view to make connections among cell quality, process standardization and cell collection access, as well as to understand the impact of these factors further downstream in the cell therapy manufacturing process,” said d’Haenens. “This will enable us to bring together a variety of stakeholders to help unlock patient access to therapies.”

Terumo BCT has long played a significant role in blood-based therapies through its leadership in therapeutic apheresis. For example, Spectra Optia is used throughout the care continuum in SCD — as a preventive therapy for vaso-occlusive crisis using automated red blood cell exchange, for collecting stem cells for transplant, and for optimizing stem cell collection for gene therapy manufacturing. The company collaborates with experts to address the specific challenges of apheresis in SCD patients and shares its solutions with CGT developers through its unique industry training programs, connecting the dots between initial cell material quality and final cell therapy quality.

“Partnering with Terumo BCT to develop best practices for apheresis in SCD patients has been instrumental in overcoming the unique challenges these patients face,” said Dan Leberfinger, BS, MT, HP (ASCP), Director, Apheresis Operations, bluebird bio. “Our combined insights from both the therapeutic apheresis and cell and gene therapy domains are making strides in optimizing the entire treatment journey — from cell collection to the delivery of life-changing therapies.”

The Global Therapy Innovations team will concentrate its efforts in improving access to therapies where CGTs are already available, including immuno-oncology, and in areas with high unmet need like SCD, Alzheimer’s disease, acute liver failure, and sepsis. It will also focus on regions where established therapeutic techniques are underutilized.

About Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to help treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers.

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies' customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 150 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending.

We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A., along with five regional headquarters, seven manufacturing sites and six innovation and development centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology.

About the Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System
The Spectra Optia system is a user-friendly, versatile, industry-leading therapeutic apheresis, cell processing and cell collection platform that allows operators to spend more time focusing on patient care.

Therapeutic apheresis is used widely for a variety of applications. For example, practitioners use red blood cell exchange (RBCX) for sickle cell disease treatment; cell collections for stem cell transplantations and to collect starting material for cell therapies; and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to treat many diseases in both the chronic and acute setting in the neurology, nephrology and hematology spaces.​

Product and protocol availability varies by country.

About the Quantum Flex^™ Cell Expansion System
Quantum Flex is an automated and functionally closed cell expansion system purpose-built to meet the needs of cell therapy developers throughout their commercialization journey, from process development through manufacturing. The platform has the flexibility to process autologous and allogeneic applications, as well as viral vector and exosome production, across multiple bioreactors sizes, allowing for process efficiencies in batch size.

The Quantum Flex system’s hollow-fiber perfusion technology provides a cell culture environment where cells gain continuous access to fresh media, waste removal and gas exchange, ensuring optimal conditions for expansion. Quantum Flex also features advanced software to support cGMP compliance, with user authentication, batch records and fleet management features allowing for easy deployment of protocols to multiple systems.

About the FINIA^™ Fill and Finish System

FINIA is a closed, automated system that formulates and aliquots fluids, including cell suspensions, to prepare for cryopreservation — all with the convenience of a benchtop design. The device requires less hands-on time with fewer operators and touchpoints than manual processes while automatically logging events, actions and information in a cGMP-compliant, detailed electronic process record. Controlled cryoprotectant addition, active temperature controls and automated mixing limit the exposure of cells to DMSO to preserve cell health, function and viability.