ATI announces first company spin-off

Aggregate Therapeutics Inc's (ATI) novel approach to intellectual property management of stem cell technologies has produced its first company spin-off. Regium is composed of several licensed and optioned technologies from Canadian institutions represented by ATI, which will benefit from the recently concluded partnership with MaRS Discovery District.

ATI and MaRS are currently combining efforts to seek financing for Regium, which targets aesthetic medicine, joint disease, diabetes and the central nervous system. The company was put together by the ATI management team led by Dr Annemarie Moseley, ATI's acting CEO.

"They've identified areas that are very interesting from a development standpoint with a technology portfolio that focuses on structure and function," says Dr Veronica Litinski, director of the MaRS Venture Group. "Our expectation is that Moseley will be instrumental in taking Regium forward … Our role is creating a business case for Regium, working with Moseley to develop a financial plan and raise money for it."

Among Regium's inaugural board of directors is Lawrence Bloomberg, a prominent financier, philanthropist and member of the MaRS board.

ATI COO, James Price, says Regium is being built around four pieces of technology licensed by ATI from four different institutions. "It's a compelling product offering and it's the direct result of work by ATI," says Price.

Litinski says it's too early to name the institutions that are providing the technologies since the technology transfer is not complete.

"We would like to launch Regium with Canadian financing," she says. "It will require substantial investment over time so we may look to US and European financing in the future."

As the for-profit commercialization arm of the Stem Cell Network (SCN) Centre of Excellence , ATI represents stem cell technologies from 16 Canadian institutions.

R$