Consolidation and acquisitions among contract manufacturers of cell and gene therapies is a growing trend, as Catalent acquires Belgium- and US-based MaSTherCell Global for $315m, and other cell and gene therapy manufacturers address capacity shortages.

After the much anticipated Phase III South Korean clinical trial of its cord blood-derived stem cell therapy for atopic dermatitis failed to meet its primary endpoint, Kangstem Biotech shifts tactics to focus on repeated dose and combo trials in the hope of better efficacy data.

Already partnered with Oxford Nanopore through its acquisition of deCODE Genetics, Amgen invests in the UK biotech to enhance its genomic capabilities. Aclaris licenses dermatology product Rhofade from Allergan. Other recent licensing and alliance deals... 

Helped by a new partnership with Belgium-based MaSTherCell, the South Korean biotech is aiming to initially challenge the European market with a stem cell therapy for atopic dermatitis, derived from human umbilical cord blood.