SaxoCell Cluster

Name

SaxoCell Cluster

Legal name

SaxoCell e.V.

Website

https://saxocell.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC), Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)

Keywords

• Cell and gene therapy
• CAR-T therapy development
• Regenerative medicine research
• Genome editing therapeutics
• ATMP development

Headquarters

HQ city

Leipzig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SaxoCell Cluster is a publicly funded research association (SaxoCell e.V.) that develops novel gene and cell therapeutics, so-called "living drugs," including CAR-T cell therapies, NK cell therapies, allogeneic macrophage therapies, and genome editing technologies for cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. The cluster coordinates seven research projects and one management project, combining academic institutions, university hospitals, and biotech partners in Saxony, Germany, to translate cell and gene therapy discoveries from bench to bedside, with emphasis on automated manufacturing and socially acceptable costs.

Product overview

SaxoCell is a research and innovation cluster focused on developing novel gene and cell therapeutics, so-called 'living drugs'. The cluster operates as a platform combining multiple therapeutic technologies and programs including CAR-T cell therapies (UniK-Tackle, UniK-Tame), MSC-based therapeutics (DESACELL®), NK cell therapies, and genome editing technologies (designer recombinases). The portfolio includes advanced therapy medicinal products like Palintra® for GvHD prevention, technology platforms like CAR FINDER for CAR candidate identification, and various cell therapy programs targeting cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DESACELL®
• UniK-Tackle
• UniK-Tame
• Palintra®
• CAR FINDER
• NK Cell Therapy Platform
• Designer Recombinase Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• Patient achieved complete remission from advanced malignant melanoma after experimental cell therapy at University Hospital Dresden
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• DKMS StemCellBank gGmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Industry partner in UniKT and MSC-READY projects, contributing stem cell banking expertise and GMP facilities for cell therapy development.
• Seamless Therapeutics GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Biotech partner in UniKT project contributing programmable recombinase technology for genome editing in CAR-T cell development.
• Cancilico GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Spin-off company partner in UniKT and SB-TRACT projects developing innovative cell therapy approaches.
• T-CURX GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CAR-T immunotherapy start-up partner in SB-TRACT project contributing to Sleeping Beauty transposon-modified T cell development.
• BioThrust GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner with core membrane aeration technology for bioreactors, spin-off from RWTH Aachen University.
• MDTB Cells GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Industry partner responsible for GMP scaling and development of DESACELL therapeutic platform for MSC-based therapies.
• Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KGsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Technology partner in NK-Alliance project providing cell separation and processing technologies for cell therapy development.
• CytivasupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Technology partner providing BioPharma Services in EMEA with focus on RNA-LNP technologies and CDMO solutions. Associated partner in SB-TRACT.
• FreseniusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Major industry partner and member of SaxoCell e.V. association contributing to cell and gene therapy ecosystem development.
• FamiCord AGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Largest cord blood bank in Europe and member of SaxoCell e.V., contributing expertise in cord blood banking and stem cell applications.
• ProBioGen AGsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Technology partner in NK-Alliance providing cell line development and bioprocessing expertise for cell therapy manufacturing.
• Wacker Chemie AGsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner contributing expertise in biochemical manufacturing and raw materials for cell therapy production.
• Haema AGsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SB-TRACT project partner providing blood banking and cell processing capabilities.
• TheryCell GmbHsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SB-TRACT project partner contributing to T cell therapy development and manufacturing.
• Cell.Copedia GmbHsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner contributing bioinformatics expertise for NK cell analysis and characterization.
• ecSeq Bioinformatics GmbHsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner providing bioinformatics solutions for sequencing data analysis in cell therapy research.
• German Red Cross Blood Donation Service Baden-Württemberg-HessensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner providing blood donor resources and expertise in blood cell processing.
• QuoData GmbHsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021NK-Alliance partner providing data analysis and quality management solutions for cell therapy development.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Research partner in UniKT project contributing expertise in radiopharmaceutical cancer research through Prof. Anja Feldmann.
• University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Core clinical partner providing patient treatment, GMP laboratories, and clinical trial infrastructure. Prof. Martin Bornhäuser serves as cluster spokesperson.
• University Hospital LeipzigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Core clinical partner contributing to multiple projects including SafeTy and NK-Alliance with expertise in hematology and cell therapy.
• SEMECOsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Another Cluster4Future initiative collaborating with SaxoCell on events including Fuck-Up Nights and joint presentations at conferences.
• TU Dresden (Technical University of Dresden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Core academic partner in SaxoCell cluster, providing research expertise in cell and gene therapy, medical systems biology, and clinical translation. Prof. Frank Buchholz serves as cluster spokesperson representing TU Dresden.
• Leipzig UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Core academic partner contributing expertise in clinical immunology, pharmacology, and medical research. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Köhl serves as cluster spokesperson representing Leipzig.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Core research partner providing expertise in cell therapy development, GMP manufacturing, and technology transfer. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Köhl is Director of Fraunhofer IZI.
• Chemnitz Hospital (Klinikum Chemnitz)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2020Clinical partner contributing to the SafeTy project and research activities, providing patient access and clinical expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Direct peers

• Miltenyi Biotec: Miltenyi Biotec is a SaxoCell technology partner that provides cell separation, processing, and manufacturing technologies for cell therapy development. It is one of the most prominent European cell and gene therapy tools and services providers and is directly comparable as a technology enabler for CAR-T, NK, and other advanced therapy workflows pursued by SaxoCell.
• Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Adaptimmune is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing engineered TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors, with established clinical and manufacturing infrastructure. It is directly comparable to SaxoCell's SB-TRACT (Sleeping Beauty transposon-modified TCR-T cells for solid tumours) and other T-cell receptor programs.
• Cellectis: Cellectis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic (universal) CAR-T cell therapies using gene editing (TALENs) — directly comparable to SaxoCell's UniKT universal allogeneic CAR-T platform and Edit-Save virus-independent genome editing programs targeting cancer and autoimmune disease.
• Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies for oncology, with multiple programs in clinical development. It is directly comparable to SaxoCell's allogeneic CAR-T focus via UniKT and SB-TRACT, and represents the leading commercial benchmark for off-the-shelf cell therapy platforms.
• Fate Therapeutics: Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived NK cell and T-cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease — directly comparable to SaxoCell's NK-Alliance (ex vivo-modified NK cells), AlloMac (allogeneic macrophages), and MSC-READY programs targeting the same allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapy opportunity.

Emerging players

• Seamless Therapeutics: Seamless Therapeutics is a SaxoCell spin-off developing programmable recombinase technology for genome editing in CAR-T cell development. It is an emerging player emerging directly from the cluster and represents a key commercialization vehicle for cluster IP, with overlapping technology to its parent.
• T-CURX GmbH: T-CURX is a CAR-T immunotherapy start-up that is a SaxoCell partner in the SB-TRACT project, developing Sleeping Beauty transposon-modified T cells for solid tumors. It is an emerging player with direct technological and operational overlap with the cluster.
• MaxCyte: MaxCyte provides electroporation-based cell engineering and manufacturing platform technologies used by cell therapy developers including CAR-T and NK programs. It overlaps with SaxoCell's automation and cell engineering priorities across its CAR-T, NK, and macrophage programs.
• ProBioGen AG: ProBioGen is a Berlin-based contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in cell line development and bioprocessing for cell and gene therapy. It is a SaxoCell partner in NK-Alliance and provides directly comparable cell therapy manufacturing and process development capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Cytiva: Cytiva is a global life sciences tools and bioprocessing company providing manufacturing technologies, CDMO services, and RNA-LNP capabilities to the cell and gene therapy industry. It is a SaxoCell associated partner in SB-TRACT and operates as a broad incumbent enabling advanced therapy manufacturing comparable to SaxoCell's automation goals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SaxoCellC4F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saxocell-cluster
• Instagraminstagram.com/saxocell

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SaxoCell Cluster