Cellino and Karis Bio have announced a strategic partnership to develop patient-specific therapies for cardiovascular disease, marking Cellino’s first expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.

The collaboration will combine Karis Bio’s vessel regeneration technology with Cellino’s Nebula platform, which integrates artificial intelligence, robotics, and high-throughput biomanufacturing. The companies aim to make autologous cell therapies more accessible and scalable for a wider patient population, with a particular focus on treating cardiovascular disease.

Karis Bio recently launched a first-in-human study in South Korea using an autologous therapy derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The company said this represents a significant advancement in regenerative medicine and could shape the future of personalized treatment approaches.

“Our inaugural first-in-human study using an autologous iPSC-derived therapy in South Korea is a pivotal advancement in regenerative medicine,” said Young-sup Yoon, CEO of Karis Bio.

“This collaboration with Cellino will mutually leverage the strengths of both organizations, using Cellino’s Nebula platform and Karis Bio’s vessel regeneration technology to pave the way for the next generation of patient-specific cardiovascular disease therapies to be delivered worldwide.”

By expanding into Asia-Pacific, Cellino is extending its global ambitions and aiming to position itself as a leader in scalable autologous therapies. The company’s platform is designed to address key manufacturing bottlenecks in regenerative medicine, particularly those associated with personalised treatments.

“This partnership is a major milestone for Cellino as we bring our automated manufacturing platform to Asia for the first time,” said Nabiha Saklayen, CEO and co-founder of Cellino. “We are excited to work alongside Karis Bio to develop therapies that will improve outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease.”

The use of autologous iPSC-derived therapies remains a promising but complex area of regenerative medicine, due to challenges in standardization, cost, and logistics. However, both companies believe their technologies can overcome these limitations through integration of automation and biologically relevant innovations.

With cardiovascular disease remaining one of the leading causes of death globally, the collaboration represents an opportunity to accelerate the development of more precise and effective treatments tailored to individual patients. The partners said they are committed to further clinical development and eventual global deployment of the therapy.