Dalton Pharma Services has entered a drug development and manufacturing services agreement with ExCellThera Inc, a biotechnology company focused on molecules and bioengineering solutions to expand stem and immune cells for therapeutic use.

ExCellThera will have access to Dalton`s cGMP biopharmaceutical facility in Toronto, ON. Dalton will be responsible for the formulation and fill/finish of UM171, a constituent of ExCellThera’s lead technology, ECT-001, to support Phase II trials in Canada and the U.S.

Stem cell transplantation is increasingly be used in the treatment of blood and bone marrow cancers and shows potential for autoimmune disorders and other non-malignant diseases. ECT-001 is a combination of a small molecule, UM171, and an optimized culture system. The technology is capable of expanding the number of stem and immune cells exponentially in as little as seven days, allowing more rapid engraftment, greatly reduced incidence of transplant-related mortality, low risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease and low risk of relapse, resulting in better outcomes for patients.

“Dalton is pleased to apply its expertise in aseptic formulation and sterile fill/finish towards developing this leading-edge therapy. We look forward to working with ExCellThera in support of their efforts to develop ECT-001 as a treatment for blood cancers.” said Peter Pekos, chief executive officer of Dalton Pharma Services.