By Stephanie Robey
THE BUSINESS
Cell Logistics began as a discovery in the UW-Madison Department of Medicine and sprouted into a company with the mission to commercialize a product to aid in the treatment of heart disease. Eric Schmuck, Ph.D.; Amish Raval, M.D.; and Peiman Hematti, M.D. cofounded Cell Logistics, Inc. in 2016. Alex Vodenlich, M.S. joined the team in 2018 as President and CEO.
The company’s focus is to deliver a product that will minimize the damage following a heart attack and help preserve heart function. The product aims to lower the occurrence of heart failure.
The company’s product, a biomaterial called iCFX, is an innovation shown to minimize tissue damage and assist in restoring blood flow after a heart attack. It is produced from adult stem cells, which sets it apart from the competition. Other companies have produced animal-derived and synthetic biomaterials, but these have not yet shown strong effectiveness.
Cell Logistics has secured an exclusive license for key intellectual property through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). This arrangement grants Cell Logistics the rights to use and commercialize iCFX.
THE OBSTACLES
“The biggest challenge, always, is funding a new therapeutic venture as the risks are significant,” Vodenlich said. “It is also challenging to anticipate all the technical and market dynamics because we are proposing a totally new approach to treating disease. Since this is a novel technology, navigating the regulatory environment also takes a bit of effort.”
THE FUNDING AND COLLABORATION
To obtain funding for the development of their product, Cell Logistics submitted Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications. Vodenlich said, “The federal programs are very competitive. We were happy to be awarded two Phase I SBIR grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): one in 2021 and another in 2022.”
Earlier this year, they received a Pre-clinical Catalyze grant from NHLBI that is funding their collaborate work with Allele Biotechnology (San Diego, CA), a provider of contract development and manufacturing services to produce and scale the manufacture of iCFX. This work is critical to the eventual submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and approval for clinical trials.
Vodenlich said, “We are also partnered with the UW-Madison Center for Biomedical Swine Research & Innovation (CBSRI) on a Discovery to Product – State Economic Engagement and Development (D2P-SEED) grant to conduct a ‘pilot’ study for the safety and efficacy of iCFX in a human translational model: the pig.”
Cell Logistics has taken advantage of programs offered through the CTC. They approached Todd Strother, Ph.D., a senior technology consultant with CTC, who assisted their team with a commercialization plan and grant applications. Ultimately, Vodenlich and his company were awarded two SBIR Advance grants from CTC aligned to the first two SBIR awards: one in 2022 and the second in 2023. This funding has been used for customer discovery and validation and to further the development of a commercial plan for the product. In addition, Cell Logistics took advantage of the Venture Readiness Program. “The program helped us refine our value proposition, executive summary, and investor presentation. The program also helps with interviews, public relations, and more,” Vodenlich said.
THE PASSION
Vodenlich said what he enjoys most about working with Cell Logistics is the people. “Our team is creative and expert in regenerative medicine with a knack for advancing therapies. Our goal is to get iCFX approved by the FDA for clinical trials and to deliver a new and effective treatment for heart disease that results in patients living healthier lives. We are excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact on medicine for years to come.”