iPSC-derived Cell Therapies

Get in Touch

We provide CDMO services from episomal vectors to cell engineering

The number of studies focused on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based therapies has significantly increased in recent years, leading to various candidate drugs progressing to clinical and commercial stages. For example, Japan is expected to soon grant market authorization for the first iPSC-based cell therapy. As research on iPSCs advances and knowledge in this field expands, different approaches are being utilized to tackle critical challenges in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC). These challenges include enhancing reprogramming efficiency, characterizing iPSCs and their derived cell products, and ensuring consistent quality. Porton Advanced offers an integrated CMC service for iPSC-derived cells, backed by our extensive experience as a CDMO in stem cells and immune cells.

We offer integrated CMC services ranging from reprogramming factor delivery vectors, reprogramming, to cell differentiation and large-scale manufacturing:

  • Episomal vectors, lentiviral vectors, and mRNA production for reprogramming
  • Cell reprogramming and iPSC colony selection
  • Gene modification/editing
  • GMP cell banking and cell storage
  • iPSC differentiation
  • iPSC-derived cell product GMP manufacturing
  • Process development and optimization
  • Analytical method development and optimization, analytical qualification, and validation
  • Testing Services for drug substance (DS) and drug Product (DP)
  • CMC information writing and regulatory submission

Reprogramming and Gene Editing Service

Porton Advanced is able to formulate “Yamanaka factor” based methodologies by implementing cell reprogramming techniques in Fibroblast cells or PBMC. To address immune rejection in transplantation treatment, assist with large-scale drug screening, and aid in the replacement of difficult-to-obtain primary cell lines, Porton Advanced is able to construct knock-out, knock-in, and point mutation cell lines via non-viral electroporation or lentiviral transduction. 

Using PBMC as starting cell

Case Study

The primary attempt of using episomal vectors to generate the iPSC cell line. We will optimize the process based on clients' projects.

To construct the iPSC cell line via gene editing/lentiviral transduction

Case Study

Porton Advanced is able to achieve gene editing efficiency at 90% after optimization

Cell Banking Service

Porton Advanced's scientists can manufacture GMP iPSC cell banks and cells that are compliant with NMPA, FDA, EMA, and PMDA regulatory standards and guidelines for your cell therapy projects. Our iPSC experts will provide the necessary quality and regulatory documents such as COAs, batch records, and quality technical agreements for your GMP iPSC MCB, PCM, or WCB. As of May 2025, Porton Advanced has delivered over 5 iPSC cell banking projects and dozens of other GMP cell banking projects.

Cell Differentiation and Manufacturing

The scientists from Porton Advanced have deep expertise and experience in tech transfer, cell differentiation, and GMP production. Using our GMP-compliant facility, we can accommodate iPSC-derived allogenic and autologous cell product production with over 1000 batches annually. As for filling systems, Porton Advanced provides manual, semi-automated, and automated processes to meet various cell type, container, and filling volume needs. 

Comprehensive analytical and testing strategies

To establish a reliable and reproducible manufacturing process from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation to differentiation, it is crucial to identify the critical quality attributes (CQA) and critical process parameters (CPP). Porton Advanced has developed thorough testing and characterization methods for the starting materials, intermediate products, and final products.
Taking a working cell bank as an example:

Type CQA
Physico-chemical Appearance
pH
Osmolality (Ph.)
Strength Cell concentration & viability
Cell cycle
Identification Cell morphology
STR
iPSC cell biomarker
Strain identification
Karyotyping
Full genome sequencing
Microbiological safety

Bacterial and fungal examination
Mycobacteria
Mycoplasma(Cultural method, DNA staining)
Endotoxin
Endogenous and Adventitious virus agents
Retrovirus (if necessary)
Human virus detection
Soft agar cloning
Biosafety Telomerase
Stemness Alkaline phosphatase staining
Immunofluorescence detection of pluripotency gene  expression
PCR detection of pluripotency gene expression
Functional Embryoid body differentiation
Teratoma differentiation
Ectodermal differentiation ability- neural precursor cell differentiation

Clients & Partners

View More