Benzinga | Oct 27, 2021 04:29PM EDT

3D Systems, United Therapeutics Reports Expansion Of Bioprinting Program

* Amendment expands program from a singular focus on the bioprinting of human lung scaffolds to the development and demonstration of two additional human organs

* Amendment will become effective upon closing of 3D Systems' acquisition of Volumetric Biotechnologies, Inc., which was announced earlier today

* Expanded program leverages progress made on the bioprinting of lung scaffolds for application across multiple human organs using the jointly developed technology platform

* Program builds upon a foundation of successful collaboration since 2017, with a goal of providing an unlimited supply of biocompatible human organs to meet the needs of millions of end-stage patients requiring transplants worldwide

ROCK HILL, S.C. and MANCHESTER, N.H., Oct. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is pleased to announce an expansion of its joint development program with United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR). The development and license agreement, first established in 2017, combines the 3D printing expertise of 3D Systems, with the regenerative medicine and organ manufacturing expertise of United Therapeutics (UT). To date, the program has had a strong, singular focus on developing the capability to print scaffolds for human lungs using a process we call Print to Perfusion(tm). This 3D printed scaffold would then be cellularized using cells derived from the recipient patient's own body, to create personalized human lungs. 3D Systems has focused primarily on establishing the printing technology to produce scaffolds meeting the extreme precision and resolution requirements for a functional human lung and to do so in a manner that yields the physical, mechanical, and biocompatibility performance to influence cell behavior and reproduction required for extended use in the human body. The goal of the program is to establish an unlimited supply of human lungs, requiring no immunosuppression, allowing all patients with end-stage lung disease to receive transplants which will enable them to enjoy long and active lives. Based upon the progress made toward this goal, the program is now being expanded to include two additional human organs, with support now designated through 2025.

"We are very pleased with the foundation that our joint 3D Systems/United Therapeutics team has established over the last four years in support of our goal of providing a limitless supply of human lungs for transplant into patients around the world," said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. "This progress has not only inspired confidence that our goal for human lungs is attainable, but that we are now in a position to extend this development to additional organs in the human body that are in a similar short supply. We are grateful to Dr. Martine Rothblatt, chairperson and chief executive officer of United Therapeutics, for her vision, support, and unwavering dedication to making this dream a reality in our lifetime, and to the pioneering work of Chuck Hull, our chief technology officer for regenerative medicine at 3D Systems."

Commenting on this expansion of the program, Dr. Rothblatt stated, "We are excited to expand our patient-cell-based 3D bioprinting activities into additional organs. This approach avoids the need for immunosuppression and thus provides a most hopeful pathway to satisfying the huge unmet medical need for organ transplantation."