Cellistic has launched a new platform aimed at enabling the scalable manufacturing of off-the-shelf immune cell therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Known as Echo-NK, the platform focuses on producing Natural Killer (NK) cells for use in allogeneic therapies.

According to Cellistic, NK cells are gaining ground in cell therapy research and development due to their innate ability to identify and kill malignant or dysfunctional cells at early stages. The company claims the Echo-NK platform offers a cost-effective and scalable method for producing these cells using iPSCs, with potential applications across blood cancers, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases.

The new platform builds on the original Echo platform, introduced in 2023 for iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapies. Cellistic says Echo-NK employs a feeder-free, closed bioreactor system for the expansion and differentiation of iPSCs into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and NK cells. These manufacturing steps are carried out at the company’s EMA-certified GMP facility, which it says supports more efficient and consistent production compared to traditional 2D methods.

Echo-NK also includes standardised unit operations for downstream processes such as filling, labelling, and cryopreservation, which are carried out using automated systems and GMP-compliant protocols. Quality control is handled through pre-validated testing methods that Cellistic says are aligned with pharmacopoeia standards. The company also emphasises the importance of its Quality Assurance systems for maintaining product consistency and regulatory compliance.

Tarran Pierfelice, Chief Commercial Officer at Cellistic, described the new platform as a ‘paradigm shift’ in NK cell manufacturing.

She said: “With 15 years of experience in developing cell therapies, we enable scalable and cost-effective production,” adding that the platform aims to support biopharma partners in developing ‘safe, potent, and off-the-shelf NK treatments for multiple applications.’

The platform also integrates Cellistic’s Pulse cell line development capabilities and STAR-CRISPR gene editing technology. The company says these tools allow it to rapidly develop stable iPSC lines incorporating client-specific edits prior to Master Cell Bank (MCB) creation, helping to accelerate early development timelines.

Cellistic reports it is currently supporting several clinical-stage NK cell therapy projects through the Echo-NK platform. By bringing together proprietary technologies under a single system, the company believes it can help drug developers overcome key manufacturing bottlenecks and support broader access to next-generation cell therapies.