Cellerix

About Cellerix

Cellerix S.A. was a Spanish biopharmaceutical company established in 2004 as a spin-off from the Genetrix Group. The company was founded in Madrid, Spain, by Carlos Martínez-Alonso, Cristina Garmendia, and Antonio Bernad. The founders' background originated from the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology, where they focused on immunology, oncology, and cellular therapy. This expertise directly shaped Cellerix's core mission.

The firm concentrated on the development and production of medicinal products based on adult stem cells, particularly those derived from adipose tissue (eASCs). Cellerix's business model centered on creating a cell therapy platform to deliver off-the-shelf treatments for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Its primary market was patients with conditions that had high unmet medical needs, offering new therapeutic options where few existed. Revenue generation was anticipated through the commercialization of its product pipeline, following successful clinical development and regulatory approval. The company secured significant funding to advance its programs, raising a total of $78.5 million over two rounds, with major contributions from investors like Novartis Venture Fund, Roche Venture Fund, and Ysios Capital Partners.

Cellerix's product pipeline included candidates for gastroenterology, dermatology, and immune-based diseases. A key product was Cx601, an orphan drug developed for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease. This product utilized expanded allogeneic stem cells from adipose tissue, which demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Another notable product was Cx401, also for perianal fistulas, and Cx501, a cell therapy for the rare skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa. In February 2011, after announcing positive Phase IIa clinical trial results for Cx601, Cellerix entered into a merger agreement with TiGenix NV. The all-share deal valued Cellerix at approximately €58 million ($79.7 million) and was finalized in May 2011, creating a combined entity aimed at leading the European cell therapy market.