Celularity Inc. and DefEYE, Inc. are kicking off a new strategic partnership involving an exclusive sublicense for Celularity’s ophthalmic biologic solutions portfolio.
Let’s start with DefEYE… which used to be Verséa Ophthalmics?
That’s correct. The former subsidiary of Verséa Health debuted as a newly independent (and rebranded) company last month.
- Check out our coverage for that rundown.
What to know: DefEYE is a privately-held ophthalmic biologics company with a portfolio of decellularized biologics solutions for the treatment and management of several ocular conditions.
Can you tell us more about this portfolio?
These products include the BIOVANCE line of amnion-derived ocular allografts for ocular surface repair and wound healing—which then-Versea acquired the exclusive U.S. commercial rights from Celularity in 2023.
- Read more about BIOVANCE.
Arlighty, now to Celularity.
The clinical-stage biotechnology company specializes in developing, manufacturing, and commercializing advanced biomaterial products and allogeneic and autologous cell therapies derived from the postpartum placenta.
- Portfolio details here.
Why the placenta: Postpartum placental-derived cells contain immunomodulatory and regenerative properties that, essentially, have a low potential for an immune response.
And the company’s technology?
Celularity’s proprietary technology uses a single placenta to develop scalable and cost-effective allogeneic cell therapies that can be used without needing to match a patient to a donor.
- Depending on the therapeutic, one placenta could potentially yield 100 to 100,000+ doses
- See here for a closer look at this science and technology process.
So… what does this new partnership entail?
For starters: Celularity invested in DefEYE as part of the company’s recent $12 million Series Seed Preferred Equity funding round.
And as a bonus: Celularity has also granted DefEYE an exclusive sublicense for its ophthalmic biologics portfolio, encompassing:
- The BIOVANCE franchise: BIOVANCE and BIOVANCE 3L Ocular, a single-layer and tri-layer human amniotic membrane allograft
- Interfyl
- CentaFlex
I’m not familiar with those last two products…
Interfyl is a decellularized human placental connective tissue matrix (CTM) used for replacing or supplementing damaged or inadequate integumental tissue.
- See here for its surgical and wound indications
CentaFlex is a decellularized human placental matrix derived from the human umbilical cord with the strength to support soft-tissue repair.
- Learn more about its features
Got it. And what are DefEYE’s plans?
The company intends to use the proceeds from this round to launch (and scale) its portfolio. This will include:
- The BIOVANCE franchise
- Interfyl
- Collaborative research and development for future commercial products
What’s in it for Celularity?
Two main advantages:
The company will become the exclusive contract manufacturer for DefEYE’s ophthalmic biologic solutions portfolio (expanding its portfolio’s access to new markets).Celularity has also gained the right to name one member of DefEYE’s five-member Board of Directors.
- And as Chairman and CEO Robert J. Haiti, MD, PhD, noted: “The partnership reflects a strategic opportunity to align for both companies and signals the start of a promising new chapter for regenerative therapies [specifically: placental-derived regenerative biologic solutions] in eye care.”