Cesca Therapeutics Announces First Evaluation Agreement With a Leading U.S. Academic Research Institution for X-Series™ Products That Provide Automated, Closed System Cellular Processing


RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., April 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cesca Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:KOOL), a market leader in automated cell processing and point-of-care, autologous cell-based therapies, today announced that it has entered into its first evaluation agreement with a leading, U.S. academic institution’s cell therapy research arm to assess certain of Cesca’s patented and proprietary X-Series products for automated, closed system cellular processing.

X-Series products are part of Cesca’s CAR-TXpress™ platform which is an automated system that selects target cells using its patented, buoyancy-activated cell separation (X-BACS™) technology. The system is a multi-device platform designed to automate many of the manual steps currently involved in cell processing. As such, the CAR-TXpress system can provide a comprehensive and commercially viable, automated cellular manufacturing and control (CMC) solution for the development of CAR-T as well as CAR-NK therapeutics.

“The complexity of the CAR-T manufacturing process stands as a significant obstacle to the more rapid uptake of these ground-breaking therapies, contributing to lengthy treatment times and high costs,” said Phil Coelho, chief technology officer of ThermoGenesis, Cesca’s device subsidiary. “We believe CAR-TXpress™ can automate key steps in the process while at the same time improving cell yields and consistency. We look forward to the results of this initial evaluation, and we are hopeful that it will lead to a long and productive collaboration with this highly regarded institution.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Cesca will be responsible for providing its X-Series products, along with required training and support. Cesca will receive data regarding improvements in speed, yield, efficiency and consistency as compared to the institution’s legacy CAR-T cell manufacturing process.    

About Cesca Therapeutics Inc.
Cesca Therapeutics develops, commercializes and markets a range of automated technologies for CAR-T and other cell-based therapies. Its device division, ThermoGenesis, provides a full suite of solutions for automated clinical biobanking, point-of-care applications, and automation for immuno-oncology. The Company is developing an automated, functionally-closed CAR-TXpress platform that addresses the critical unmet need for better cellular manufacturing and controls (CMC) for the emerging CAR-T immunotherapy market. Cesca is an affiliated company of China-based Boyalife Group.

Forward-Looking Statement
The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. A more complete description of risks that could cause actual events to differ from the outcomes predicted by Cesca Therapeutics’ forward-looking statements is set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Cesca Therapeutics’ annual report on Form 10-K and other reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, and you should consider each of those factors when evaluating the forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:
Cesca Therapeutics Inc.
Wendy Samford
916-858-5191
ir@cescatherapeutics.com

Investor Contact:
Rx Communications
Paula Schwartz
917-322-2216
pschwartz@rxir.com