DiscGenics
DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic, injectable Discogenic Cell therapy for treating lumbar degenerative disc disease. The company targets spine surgeons and chronic low back pain patients in the US and Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DiscGenics does
DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, developing regenerative cell therapies for degenerative diseases of the spine. Its sole clinical asset is IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic, homologous, injectable (non-surgical) cell therapy that uses proprietary Discogenic Cells cultured from donated human intervertebral disc tissue and prepared under cGMP conditions as a cryopreserved, off-the-shelf product administered via percutaneous intradiscal injection. IDCT is intended to treat mild to moderate adult lumbar disc degeneration, a leading cause of chronic low back pain, as a biologically restorative alternative to spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement. DiscGenics has accumulated 24 issued patents covering the Discogenic Cell platform, secured FDA Fast Track (2019) and RMAT (2023) designations, and received FDA approval to proceed with Phase III clinical evaluation in July 2024.
The company is pre-commercial and generates no product revenue, with commercialization expected only after regulatory approval and BLA filing. The intended go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales targeting hospital and ambulatory surgery center procurement channels, with distribution to spine surgeons, orthopedic spine specialists, and neurosurgeons. The company has assembled a commercial-ready operational ecosystem through partnerships with CCRM and GE Healthcare (GMP manufacturing scale-up), MedCision (automated cell thawing), and Cryoport (cold-chain logistics). DiscGenics pursues a dual-jurisdiction regulatory and commercial strategy in the United States and Japan, with Japanese PMDA Clinical Trial Notification approved in December 2018.
DiscGenics has raised over $71M in cumulative venture funding across a 2011 early round, a $14M Series B (2017), and a $50M Series C (2020) led by Ci:z Investment LLP with participation from Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Medical Incubator Japan, CareNet, and Eagle Fund. The company operates with 11-50 employees and has been recognized with a Goldman Sachs "100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs" honor (2021) and a peer-reviewed Best Paper Award from the International Journal of Spine Surgery (2025). Founder Flagg Flanagan has served as Chairman and CEO since inception, and the company is privately held with no parent or subsidiary relationships.
DiscGenics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DiscGenics
- Legal name
- DiscGenics, Inc.
- Website
- https://discgenics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic, injectable Discogenic Cell therapy for treating lumbar degenerative disc disease. The company targets spine surgeons and chronic low back pain patients in the US and Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DiscGenics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regenerative Cell Therapy / Spine Biologics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies (HLAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where DiscGenics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DiscGenics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Cell Therapy Product Sales: As a pre-commercial clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, DiscGenics has no current revenue. Upon regulatory approval, the expected revenue model is the sale of a commercially manufactured cell therapy product, billed as a one-time therapeutic procedure (single injection per treated disc). Revenue will flow through hospital and outpatient spine surgery center procurement channels upon FDA approval and commercial launch.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
DiscGenics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic, injectable cell therapy that uses proprietary Discogenic Cells derived from donated adult human intervertebral disc tissue to treat mild to moderate adult lumbar degenerative disc disease. The product is administered as a single percutaneous intradiscal injection in an outpatient setting, manufactured under cGMP conditions and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf use as a regenerative, non-surgical alternative to spinal fusion or disc replacement.
Product overview
DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing regenerative cell-based therapies for degenerative spine diseases. The company's primary product is IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic injectable disc cell therapy that utilizes proprietary Discogenic Cells. IDCT is the company's core therapeutic candidate designed to treat mild to moderate degenerative disc disease through a single intradiscal injection, offering a non-surgical, potentially regenerative solution. Discogenic Cells serve as the therapeutic engine derived from donated adult human intervertebral disc tissue, manufactured under cGMP conditions and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf administration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IDCT (rebonuputemcel) An allogeneic, injectable (non-surgical) cell therapy utilizing proprietary Discogenic Cells to treat mild to moderate adult lumbar disc degeneration. Administered via percutaneous intradiscal injection in an outpatient setting as an off-the-shelf cryopreserved dose for adult patients with symptomatic degenerative disc disease, intended as a regenerative alternative to spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement.
Companies that use DiscGenics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DiscGenics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
DiscGenics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CCRM and GE HealthcarecoreDiscGenics partnered with CCRM, a leading Canadian cell therapy and regenerative medicine CDMO, and GE Healthcare to support manufacturing scale-up of its Discogenic Cell therapy for late-stage clinical trials and anticipated commercial launch. CCRM provides GMP manufacturing process development, scale-up, and regulatory support services.
- MedCisioncoreDiscGenics participates in MedCision's ThawSTAR Early Adopter Program, which provides automated, standardized thawing solutions for cryopreserved cell therapy products. MedCision's ThawSTAR system is designed to ensure consistent, safe thawing of cell therapies in clinical trial and commercial settings, replacing manual water-bath thawing methods.
- CryoportcoreCryoport provides temperature-controlled logistics and cold chain management services critical for the distribution of DiscGenics' cryopreserved Discogenic Cell therapy product, ensuring chain-of-custody integrity from GMP manufacturing through clinical site delivery.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DiscGenics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mesoblast: Mesoblast develops allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapies for inflammatory and degenerative diseases. It is the most directly comparable peer in late-stage regenerative cell therapy commercialization, competing in similar musculoskeletal and inflammatory indications.
- BioRestorative Therapies: BioRestorative Therapies develops autologous and allogeneic stem cell therapies, with a disc-derived stem cell program (Disc2System/BRTX-100) targeting chronic lumbar disc disease—directly overlapping DiscGenics' IDCT indication and mechanism.
- Medipost: Medipost commercializes Cartistem, an allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cartilage regeneration. Comparable allogeneic cell therapy commercial-stage competitor, with parallel Korean/Japanese regulatory experience.
Broad incumbents
- Vericel: Vericel markets MACI (autologous cell therapy for cartilage repair) and other cell-based therapies. It is a US-listed commercial cell therapy company operating in adjacent musculoskeletal regenerative indications with similar bioprocessing and surgical-channel go-to-market.
- NuVasive (now Globus Medical): Globus Medical (acquired NuVasive) is a leading spine surgery device incumbent offering fusion, motion preservation, and orthobiologic products. They represent the surgical alternative that IDCT aims to displace.
- Medtronic: Medtronic's Spine division offers BMP-infused bone grafts and other orthobiologics used in spinal fusion. As the dominant spine incumbent, Medtronic represents the entrenched competitive threat and potential strategic acquirer.
- Stryker: Stryker operates a major spine and orthopedics franchise including biologics. Comparable as a large incumbent with the resources to acquire or compete with cell therapy entrants in the spine market.
Emerging players
- Cynata Therapeutics: Cynata is developing induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions. Early-stage but addressing the same regenerative cell therapy opportunity.
- Lineage Cell Therapeutics: Lineage develops allogeneic cell therapies using its proprietary cell expansion platform for orthopedic, neurological, and other indications. Comparable platform technology and clinical-stage positioning.
- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: BrainStorm is a late-stage cell therapy company developing autologous MSC-NTF therapies. Compares on cell therapy development playbook, manufacturing complexity, and regulatory pathway navigation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DiscGenics social profiles
Digital presenceDiscGenics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
DiscGenics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DiscGenics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
DiscGenics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DiscGenics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DiscGenics
What does DiscGenics do?
DiscGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing IDCT (rebonuputemcel), an allogeneic, injectable cell therapy that uses proprietary Discogenic Cells derived from donated adult human intervertebral disc tissue to treat mild to moderate adult lumbar degenerative disc disease. The product is administered as a single percutaneous intradiscal injection in an outpatient setting, manufactured under cGMP conditions and cryopreserved for off-the-shelf use as a regenerative, non-surgical alternative to spinal fusion or disc replacement.
Is DiscGenics a public or private company?
DiscGenics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was DiscGenics founded?
DiscGenics was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DiscGenics based?
DiscGenics is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does DiscGenics make money?
One revenue line is on record: cell Therapy Product Sales.
Who are DiscGenics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mesoblast, BioRestorative Therapies and Medipost. Broad incumbents are Vericel, NuVasive (now Globus Medical), Medtronic and Stryker. Emerging players are Cynata Therapeutics, Lineage Cell Therapeutics and BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics.
Does DiscGenics have an API?
No public API is recorded for DiscGenics.
What industry is DiscGenics in?
DiscGenics's product category is Regenerative Cell Therapy / Spine Biologics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAGAH, Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration, with a secondary code of HLAAAGAA, Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.