The European Patent Office intends to grant a Patent for Selection Algorithm

May 31, 2022

NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or the"Company") today announces that the European Patent Office (EPO) hasissued an Intention to Grant notice relating to the patent entitled "Allogeneic Composition" (publication number EP3752598). The patent describes the method of manufacturing the drug candidate ProTrans, where the selection algorithm is key for selecting optimal cells and donors.  Patent protection is valid until 2039.

The selection algorithm consists of a method for selecting cells with a suitable immunomodulatory effect that are assessed by a panel of different analyses. The algorithm makes an overall assessment of several functional analyses to identify optimal donors and cells for the manufacture of cell therapies. NextCell's accurate and advanced selection method has a scalable capability and guarantees high reproducibility and efficacy compared to other applications in cell therapy. The careful selection method results in consistently high-quality cells and hence a strong safety profile with few side effects.

 "It is reassuring for NextCell that we have received positive notification from the EPO and can protect our most valuable asset," says CEO Mathias Svahn.

ProTrans is NextCell's first drug candidate based on the selection algorithm. It is an allogeneic celltherapy which means that donated cells, not the patient's own, are used.  The cells are extracted from donated umbilical cord tissue and the cells are then multiplied to generate large amounts of cells.

Clinical trials intype-1 diabetes have shown promising results for ProTrans to stop the course of the disease for 1 year in adult patients, potentially longer. Ongoing trials are now evaluating efficacy in adolescents and children newly diagnosed withtype-1 diabetes. In addition, clinical trials are ongoing with patients with severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 infection, in Sweden and Canada.

 

This information is the information that NextCell Pharma AB is required to disclose under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided by the below contact person for publication on 31st of May at 08.30 CET.

For more information about NextCell Pharma AB, please contact:

Mathias Svahn, CEO
Patrik Fagerholm, CFO
Tel: +46 8-735 5595
E-mail: info@nextcellpharma.com

Webpage: www.nextcellpharma.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15255207/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NextCellPharma

 

Certified Adviser:

FNCA Sweden AB is assigned as Certified Adviser, 08-528 00 399, info@fnca.se.

About NextCell Pharma AB

NextCell is a phase II cell therapy company with the drug candidate ProTrans for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The focus is to take ProTrans to market approval via a Phase III study. ProTrans is in addition to diabetes, used in two clinical trials for Covid-19, in Örebro and Montreal (Canada). The company is in the processes of establishing its own GMP facility for production of ProTrans. The GMP facility is expected to be ready for production of smaller quantities of ProTrans in 2023. NextCell furthermore owns 8,5% in FamicordTX, a CAR-T start-up in oncology and 100 % of Cellaviva, Scandinavia's largest stem cell bank for family saving stem cells from umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue with permission from the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO).

Download attachmentRead full press release on Cision (external link)
2026-05-06
NextCell and FUJIFILM Biosciences Launch New Commercial Platform Comprised of RUO Stromal Cells and Cell Culture Media
NextCell Pharma AB ("NextCell" or "the Company") today announces that in collaboration with FUJIFILM Biosciences, NextCell-Cord RUO cells have been commercially launched.
Read moreRead more
2026-05-04
NextCell Pharma publishes Annual Report 2024/2025
NextCell Pharma AB (publ) (“NextCell” or the “Company”) publishes its Annual Report for the extended financial year September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. The Annual Report is available in Swedish as an appendix to this press release or on the company's website: www.nextcellpharma.com. NextCells share is traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market under the ticker "NXTCL". 
Read moreRead more
2026-05-04
NextCell Pharma publishes Annual Report 2024/2025
NextCell Pharma AB (publ) (“NextCell” or the “Company”) publishes its Annual Report for the extended financial year September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. The Annual Report is available in Swedish as an appendix to this press release or on the company's website: www.nextcellpharma.com. NextCells share is traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market under the ticker "NXTCL". 
Read moreRead more
2026-03-13
ProTrans Phase II COVID-19 Trial Accepted for Publication in Cytotherapy
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) announces that the Phase II clinical trial evaluating ProTrans® (allogeneic Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells) for respiratory complications associated with COVID-19 has been accepted for publication in Cytotherapy (https://www.isct-cytotherapy.org/article/S1465-3249(26)00736-X/abstract), the official journal of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy.
Read moreRead more
2026-03-03
NextCell Pharma presents historical quarterly figures
At the Extraordinary General Meeting of NextCell Pharma AB (publ) (“NextCell” or the “Company”) held on 21 August 2025, it was resolved that the Company shall change its financial year from a broken financial year September–August to a calendar year January–December. The Company’s first full financial year in accordance with the calendar year will be 2026. To facilitate historical comparisons and enhance transparency for future reports that will follow the calendar year structure, the Company is today publishing financial information for the five most recent comparative quarters.
Read moreRead more
2026-02-26
NextCell publishes Year-End Report 2024/2025
NextCell Pharma AB (publ) (“NextCell” or the “Company”) publishes its Year-End Report for the extended financial year September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. The report is available on the company´s website: www.nextcellpharma.com. NextCells share is traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market under the ticker "NXTCL". The amount in brackets refers to the corresponding period last year for the fourth quarter (October-December 2024) and twelve months (the previous fiscal year September 2023 - August 2024).
Read moreRead more
2026-02-17
NextCell Participating in JETRO’s Japan Entry Acceleration Program
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) announces its participation in the Japan Entry Acceleration Program (“JEAP”) in regenerative medicine, an international accelerator initiative organized and funded by JETRO. NextCell is communicating its participation in connection with the Company’s current presence in Tokyo, where program activities and meetings with Japanese industrial, regulatory and financial stakeholders are now taking place.
Read moreRead more
2026-02-03
Seven-year follow-up data from ProTrans-Repeat demonstrate sustained disease-modifying effects of ProTrans in type 1 diabetes
NextCell Pharma AB (“NextCell” or the “Company”) today announces long-term follow-up data from the ProTrans-Repeat study showing sustained preservation of endogenous insulin production in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. The data extends to approximately 6 years after the last ProTrans infusion, corresponding to 7 to 7.5 years since the first infusion.
Read moreRead more