The startup develops an allogeneic stem cell therapy platform that enables the treatment of acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic liver failure without the need for immunosuppression. This minimally invasive approach allows for the removal of the therapy once the liver has regenerated, providing a safe and effective solution for patients.
Funding
$40M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Current treatments for acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic liver failure often rely on liver transplantation, which faces challenges such as donor shortages and the need for lifelong immunosuppression. Existing extracorporeal liver replacement therapies have not yet fully met clinical needs.
Solution
Morphocell Technologies is developing ReLiver®, an allogeneic stem cell-derived engineered tissue, as a regenerative medicine product for treating severe liver diseases. ReLiver® is designed for transient implantation via minimally invasive surgery to restore liver function and accelerate the recipient’s liver regeneration without requiring immunosuppression. The encapsulated cell therapy approach allows for easy removal of the implant once the patient's liver regenerates. Preclinical data suggests that ReLiver® maintains metabolic function, improves survival rates, and effectively evades the host immune system.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic liver failure who are seeking alternatives to liver transplantation.
Features
- Derived from an unlimited induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) source for scalability
- Designed for minimally invasive implantation and easy removal
- Does not require immunosuppression, reducing the risk of complications
- Demonstrated ability to restore liver function in preclinical animal models of acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure
- Encapsulated Liver Tissue (ELT) core technology allows cells to acquire fully mature liver functions in vitro
- Can be cryopreserved for on-demand use