3D Bioprinter by Cellbricks: Today, mouse tissue, Tomorrow, Astronaut Skin, and Eventually, Living Organs
Cellbricks Therapeutics, a biotech startup, strives to revolutionize organ transplants with 3D bioprinting technology. Founder Lutz Kloke initially envisioned creating human organs for individuals, with the ambitious aim of even printing organs for Mars missions someday.
Despite the long and arduous journey, Cellbricks is focusing on addressing terrestrial issues first. Initially intending to produce human organs like livers and kidneys, the company has shifted its focus to capitalize on opportunities in the aesthetic medicine market. CEO Alexander Leutner,\, amid fundraising efforts, doesn't shy away from using the term "longevity," hinting at potential applications for anti-aging purposes.
Currently, Cellbricks is actively raising funds for preclinical studies, which represent a crucial step towards the clinical phase. Leutner believes that strengthening tailwinds and promising conversations with potential partners are driving the fundraising efforts. With preclinical studies being expensive, securing a mid-double-digit million amount will be necessary to test Cellbricks' technology on humans.
Based in Berlin, Cellbricks has its roots at Bayer Pharmaceuticals' facilities in the district of Wedding. As a tenant, the startup developed its first light-based 3D laser printer for tissue at this location. The initial bioprinter, called "Dagobah", impressed employees by silently and quickly creating tissue during demonstrations.
Upon visiting Cellbricks in November 2022, their team consisted of 12 members, with the primary goal of printing functioning human organs. The company recently hired more staff from 12 nations, growing the team to 23 people. The team has divided into two sections: Team "Fat" primarily focuses on current business needs, while Team "Liver" persistently pursues the long-term vision of printing living organs.
Different business models are possible for Cellbricks, such as selling printed products, selling the bioprinters themselves, or providing a platform for various applications. Recently, Team "Fat" has achieved a significant milestone, successfully transplanting 3D-bioprinted adipose tissue implants onto mice, which integrated with the host tissue for seven weeks without signs of rejection or fibrosis – an achievement that has yet to be replicated elsewhere in the world.
Competition is fierce in the 3D bioprinting industry, with the Canadian company Aspect Biosystems raising €115 million earlier this year. Meanwhile, Cellink, a Swedish startup renowned for its work on skin, joints, and cartilage, is now part of the US-based Bioink Group.
Cellbricks plans to study pigs using printed tissue, similar to the mouse trials, with human trials scheduled for 2027 in the US. The company aims for FDA approval and recently established a location in Boston for this purpose. Simon MacKenzie, an experienced manager from US pharmaceutical companies, joined as co-CEO to facilitate this process.
Whether this may signal a shift towards the US market remains unclear, as Cellbricks intends to maintain its headquarters in Europe. In the current fundraising round, investors hail from both Europe and the US. The company has already secured €10 million in investments, half of which come from grants, and the other half from investors such as ACT Ventures Partner, B Value, and medical professionals. Leutner aims to raise significantly more in the next round to fund the journey towards creating viable human organs using 3D bioprinting technology.
What medical conditions might benefit from Cellbricks' 3D bioprinted adipose tissue implants in the future? The study and development of these implants in pigs, as part of Cellbricks' plan, could potentially revolutionize health-and-wellness for individuals with various medical-conditions by providing a solution for tissue regeneration using science and technology.
