3D Systems and Antleron announced their new collaboration to create advancements in the biomedical industry. Their efforts will focus in particular on creating solutions for medical device and advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) applications. 3D Systems will be contributing both its healthcare expertise and printing technologies, while Antleron be providing its innovation in regenerative products. The two companies will be focusing their efforts on Antleron’s development of bioprinting solutions with the use of 3D Systems’ printing technologies.
Antleron has already established an R&D facility located at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. The facility will be used to support and validate customer’s 3D bioprinting projects. Called Antleron’s “living therapy factory,” the facility is capable of merging cells, biomaterials, biologics and bioreactors. The company makes use of artificial intelligence, which allows multidisciplinary specialists to translate these technologies into efficient workflows that can turn cells into therapies. With the addition of 3D Systems’ printers, Antleron aims to accelerate the engineering of living therapies.
The collaboration will be integrating a variety of technologies, such as 3D Systems’ ProJet MJP 2500 and Figure 4 3D printers, plus the company’s existing portfolio of 21 biocompatible, USP Class VI materials, 3D Sprint and 3DXpert software, and post-processing equipment and processes.
According to the two companies, the goal of the collaboration is to establish a flexible and scalable Digital Factory approach. This means modular, closed parametric processes that will include monitoring and quality control to ensure risk mitigation. One example they shared is their plan to advance how cells and tissues are grown by enabling the transition from a static 2D form to a bioreactor-based 3D cell culture. They expect this to result in new, innovative ways to manufacture functionalized medical implants, vaccines, cell therapies and living tissues.
According to Antleron CEO Jan Schrooten, “The vision of Antleron is to sustainably bring living therapies into the clinic. 3D printing is key to this endeavor, and we are eager to collaborate with 3D Systems and its experts. I look forward to the pioneering solutions we’ll be able to achieve to elevate the efficacy of bioprinting and extend its biomedical application reach.”
Chuck Hull, cofounder and chief technology officer of 3D Systems, added, “3D Systems is excited about working with Antleron as they explore bioprinting, and especially their capability to develop end-to-end solutions utilizing the 3D Systems’ state-of-the-art printing platforms and materials. As we look to the future, bioprinting and regenerative medicine are large opportunities for 3D printing, and we look forward to expanding the role 3D Systems will play in these exciting fields.”
The companies will be exhibiting what they have been working on at the Formnext 2019, which will be held from November 19-22. Expect to see medical technologies along with the ProJet MJP 2500 printer and VisiJet materials.
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