Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT)

What Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT) does

Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT), legally Ferring Ventures Oy, is a Kuopio, Finland-based research and development organisation founded in 2017 and wholly owned by Swiss holding company Ferring Ventures SA. The company operates as a captive translational research centre for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), focusing on innovative cell therapies and ex vivo cell editing primarily for cancer indications, with the stated mission of progressing candidates through Phase I/IIa clinical trials. It is co-located in the Finport facility in Savilahti with sister company FinVector Oy, creating an integrated cell-and-gene-therapy ecosystem under the Ferring Ventures SA umbrella.

KCT's technical platform spans cell therapy process development, viral vector manufacturing research (lentiviral and adenoviral vectors in fixed-bed bioreactors), and an analytical core covering immunoassays, ddPCR/qPCR, flow cytometry with cell sorting, fluorescence microscopy, live cell imaging, and bioinformatics/large data analysis. Process development is oriented around automated, closed manufacturing systems for BSL2 environments to ensure robust and reproducible product manufacture. Documented programmes include lentiviral suicide gene therapy for glioma, NK cell therapy research against glioblastoma, macrophage cell therapy manufacturing variability work, and the PeptiCHIP microfluidic platform for tumor antigen landscape identification.

Commercially, KCT operates as an internal R&D engine within the Ferring Ventures SA group rather than a standalone revenue-generating services business. No external customers, pricing models, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on deep collaboration with academic partners (notably the University of Eastern Finland), CROs/CDMOs, and regulatory teams, with products intended for handoff to Ferring Ventures SA's broader ecosystem for manufacturing scale-up and eventual commercialisation. Marketing is minimal, limited to a website, scientific publications, and conference participation.

Name

Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT)

Legal name

Ferring Ventures Oy

Website

https://kct.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferring Ventures Oy (KCT) is a Kuopio, Finland-based ATMP research subsidiary of Ferring Ventures SA, developing cell and gene therapies through Phase I/IIa trials, primarily in oncology, and co-located with sister viral vector manufacturer FinVector Oy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy R&D Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services (HLAAACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAA), Gene Therapy Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Operations Services (HLAAACAM)

Keywords

• Cell therapy research
• Gene therapy development
• ATMP clinical trials
• Viral vector manufacturing
• Translational biotherapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuopio

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. R&D and Clinical Development Services: KCT conducts high-level translational research in ATMPs, developing cell therapy products through Phase I/IIa clinical trials. As a research entity owned by Ferring Ventures SA, revenue is derived from internal product development and collaboration with academic and industry partners for the advancement of gene and cell therapy products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

KCT conducts high-level translational research in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), developing cell and gene therapy products through Phase I/IIa clinical trials for cancer patients. The center offers integrated cell therapy development, viral vector manufacturing research (lentiviral and adenoviral), and state-of-the-art analytical capabilities. It operates in collaboration with academic groups, CROs, CDMOs, and regulatory teams within the Ferring Ventures SA ecosystem to advance products from research to patients.

Product overview

Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT) operates as a research and development services company providing specialized capabilities in Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs). The company offers an integrated portfolio of cell therapy development services, viral vector manufacturing research, and state-of-the-art analytical services. Core offerings include Cell Therapy Development Services for cancer treatment, Analytical Services with advanced characterization tools, Viral Vector Manufacturing Research (lentiviral and adenoviral), Macrophage Cell Therapy Research, the PeptiCHIP microfluidic platform for tumor antigen identification, Gene Therapy Solutions including suicide gene therapy, and comprehensive ATMP development services through Phase I/IIa clinical trials. The company focuses primarily on cancer therapeutics while evaluating other disease areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• KCT's research collaboration with University of Eastern Finland has produced multiple peer-reviewed publications and contributed to advancing gene and cell therapy science.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Eastern FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024Continuation of a Master research agreement between Ferring Ventures SA and the University of Eastern Finland, focusing on cell therapy. The collaboration leverages university research capabilities at the National Virus Vector Laboratory (A.I. Virtanen Institute) and Ferring Ventures' industry expertise to accelerate development of precision medicine and cell therapy treatments. Both parties aim to translate groundbreaking research into practical applications through close business collaboration, with the goal of addressing unmet clinical needs and driving regional economic growth.
• University of Eastern Finland (earlier collaboration)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2021Earlier Master research agreement with the University of Eastern Finland at the National Virus Vector Laboratory, A.I. Virtanen Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences. Novel research findings relying on the university's infrastructure were advanced through business collaboration, forming the foundation for ongoing partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yposkesi: European CDMO specializing in AAV and lentiviral vector manufacturing for gene therapy. Direct peer in viral vector process development and GMP manufacturing capabilities for gene therapy products.
• Adaptimmune: Cell therapy company developing TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors. Comparable as a peer-stage cell therapy developer with similar oncology focus and clinical translation pathway.
• Century Therapeutics: Develops iPSC-derived engineered cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Comparable as a next-generation cell therapy developer with overlapping pipeline approach.
• Carisma Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing engineered macrophage cell therapies for cancer. Direct peer given KCT's parallel macrophage cell therapy development work and overlap in oncology cell therapy modalities.
• Celyad Oncology: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing NKG2D-based CAR-T candidates for cancer. Direct peer in the oncology cell therapy translation space at similar early clinical stage.
• Forge Biologics: CDMO specializing in AAV and lentiviral gene therapy manufacturing with end-to-end capabilities. Comparable as a peer in viral vector process development and clinical-stage gene therapy CDMO services.
• Herantis Pharma: Finnish clinical-stage biotech developing cell and gene therapies including HER-096 for Parkinson's disease. Direct Nordic peer with similar translational cell therapy focus and comparable size/stage.

Broad incumbents

• Catalent: Large global CDMO offering cell therapy, viral vector, and biologics manufacturing services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the gene/cell therapy CDMO and clinical supply space where KCT competes on process development.
• Lonza Cell & Gene Technologies: Global CDMO leader with significant cell and gene therapy manufacturing services. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing integrated ATMP development, viral vector manufacturing, and clinical supply services.

Emerging players

• Tmunity Therapeutics: CAR-T cell therapy developer with focus on solid tumors. Comparable as a peer-stage engineered T-cell therapy developer addressing similar oncology indications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy (KCT)