This Rock Hill company aims to make an unlimited supply of new human organs possible
What if patients awaiting critical organ transplants could, with the help of science technology, simply grow their own?
Rock Hill company 3D Systems wants to develop the technology that would meet that need. The company announced an acquisition and program expansion this week to speed efforts that could produce printed human lungs and other human organs.
3D Systems has announced that it acquired Houston-based Volumetric Biotechnologies. Volumetric began in 2018 and focuses on bioprinting and advanced bio fabrication. Its aim is to one day manufacture human organs. The acquisition will allow 3D Systems access to a world-class research presence in Houston.
New doctors and executives from Volumetric will “dramatically expand our capabilities and capacity for the development of bioprinted human organs,” said 3D Systems president and CEO Dr. Jeffrey Graves.
A statement from the companies says the move will advance efforts to manufacture lungs and expand into other organs.
“Merging our groups, with their highly complementary skill sets, is expected to accelerate attainment of our primary mission, which is to create an unlimited supply of life-saving organs for the millions of people in need of a transplant around the world,” Graves said.
The acquisition includes a $45 million closing payment and up to $355 million in additional money based on milestones in coming years. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
“It has always been my dream to develop the capability to manufacture fully biocompatible human organs to save the lives of millions of people in need around the world,” said Dr. Jordan Miller, co-founder of Volumetric.
In addition to lungs and other organs, the work could have applications for printing vascularized human tissue that could aid in treatment of trauma or disease.
More expansion
3D Systems also announced expansion of its joint development program with New Hampshire-based United Therapeutics Corporation. A license agreement from 2017 combines the 3D printing of the Rock Hill company with the regenerative medicine and organ manufacturing of United Therapeutics.
Now the partnership will run through at least 2025 and include research on additional organs beyond lungs.
The program thus far involves work to print scaffolds for human lungs. The 3D printed structure would receive cells from the patient’s body to create personalized lungs. The goal is to allow an unlimited supply of human lungs that don’t require immunosuppression, and would allow end-stage lung disease patients to live longer.
“This progress has not only inspired confidence that our goal for human lungs is attainable, but that we are now in a position to extend this development to additional organs in the human body that are in a similar short supply,” Graves said.
Dr. Martine Rothblatt, chairperson and CEO of United Therapeutics, said there is excitement with program expansion into other organs.
“This approach avoids the need for immunosuppression and thus provides a most hopeful pathway to satisfying the huge unmet medical need for organ transplantation,” Rothblatt said.
Graves said on Thursday there’s still work to be done before a decision on what organs in addition to lungs may be pursued.
“We’re currently working closely with United Therapeutics to determine what those next organs will be, and look forward to sharing more information at the appropriate time,” Graves said.
Work continues during a global pandemic that impacts breathing for many. Yet work on the development of lungs isn’t specific to or heavily impacted by COVID-19.
“Our work with United Therapeutics Lung Biotechnology group commenced before the pandemic began, with a strong plan and set of milestones in place,” Graves said. “Over the last few years, this joint effort has progressed very well and we have now attained what we feel is a tremendous technology foundation to build upon. We are excited about continuing this collaboration to further a seemingly outrageous goal of creating an unlimited supply of human organs to save the lives and restore vitality to 10’s of millions of people in need of a transplant worldwide.”
Early last year 3D Systems announced a similar partnership with Israeli regenerative medicine company CollPlant Biotechnologies. That bioprinting partnership agreement involves a jointly developed tissue and scaffold process.
Earlier this year, 3D Systems announced a $13 million and 50-job expansion in Rock Hill. That move involves a 100,000-square-foot facility set for an early 2022 opening.
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 1:56 PM with the headline "This Rock Hill company aims to make an unlimited supply of new human organs possible."
