CryoDES · Nature-inspired Cryopreservation Systems using Natural Deep Eutectic Systems

Cell therapies are foreseen as the next generation therapeutics for some of the chronic diseases with highest global economic and social burden. The market for human cell therapies has been estimated to be 8 B€ in 2021 with an expected annual growth rate of 26% until 2028. The key aspect for the success of a cell therapy is the preservation of cells. Currently, cells must be cryopreserved using a cryoprotectant agent (CPA) at -196ºC, in a liquid nitrogen tank. The gold standard CPA is a chemical organic compound, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) highly toxic. Despite this it has high success rates and continues to be the industry gold standard CPA. Inspired by Nature, CryoDES was developed. CryoDES is a cryoprotectant agent, non-toxic and composed of generally regarded as safe components. These systems have proven to be able to replace the gold standard CPA, presenting the same or better performance indicators. One of the major advantages of these systems is the fact that it allows the storage of cells at -20 ºC, in a conventional freezer, vastly outperforming DMSO. The CryoDES team is composed of researchers and entrepreneurs who are passionate about science. Together, the CryoDES team has been working on this technology for the four years and envisage now to bring it to the next level towards a commercialization strategy. To achieve this, in this PoC the team intends to perform technical feasibility studies of the product; evaluate the commercial value of the product; perform a market assessment study and draft the plan for commercialization.. Albeit projects and results related to Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals require time to become a reality due to the need of the respective pre-clinical and clinical trials, this PoC Action will have as immediate outcome the creation of a start-up able to commercialize CryoDES for research purposes, for which there is also a large market. With CryoDES we will allow cleaner and safer cell therapies for all.