Asterias Biotherapy was a biotechnology company focused on developing novel cell therapies for serious diseases, particularly in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy. The company leveraged stem cell technology and novel immunotherapy approaches to address unmet medical needs in oncology, spinal cord injury, and degenerative diseases.
The company was founded in 2009 as a subsidiary of Geron Corporation, one of the pioneering companies in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. Asterias was acquired by Lineage Cell Therapeutics in 2019, combining the cell therapy platforms of both companies[1][2].
Note: Asterias is no longer an independent operating company following its acquisition. The company's programs are now continued through Lineage Cell Therapeutics.
Asterias Biotherapy was founded in 2009 as a subsidiary of Geron Corporation, a company that had been at the forefront of stem cell research since the 1990s. Geron had established significant intellectual property and expertise in hESC research, and created Asterias as a vehicle to advance cell therapy programs into clinical development[3].
The creation of Asterias was part of Geron's strategic decision to spin out its cell therapy programs into a dedicated subsidiary, allowing for focused development and potentially separate funding. This structure enabled specialized management and dedicated resources for the cell therapy pipeline.
In 2011, Asterias became an independent, publicly traded company (NYSE: AST). During this period, the company:
In 2019, Asterias was acquired by Lineage Cell Therapeutics, another cell therapy company with complementary programs. The acquisition combined:
The combined company continued development of both Asterias and Lineage programs under the Lineage Cell Therapeutics name[2:1][1:1].
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Menlo Park, California, USA |
| Founded | 2009 (as Geron subsidiary) |
| Became Independent | 2011 |
| Acquired by | Lineage Cell Therapeutics (2019) |
| Focus | Cell therapy, Regenerative medicine, Immunotherapy |
| Stock Symbol | AST (former) |
Asterias developed several technology platforms for cell therapy development:
The company utilized hESCs as the foundation for its regenerative medicine programs. hESCs possess the capacity to differentiate into any cell type in the human body, making them ideal for cell replacement therapies.
Asterias also developed immunotherapy approaches, primarily focused on cancer treatment:
The company developed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies targeting various cancer antigens. These engineered T-cells were designed to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
These approaches leveraged the immune system to target cancer cells through different mechanisms[5].
AST-OPC1 was Asterias's most advanced program, involving oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) derived from hESCs for treatment of spinal cord injury.
The therapy aimed to restore function by:
The trial demonstrated preliminary evidence of safety and potential efficacy, making it one of the first hESC-derived cell therapies to reach clinical testing[6][7].
AST-VAC1 was an autologous dendritic cell vaccine programmed with tumor antigen RNA. The therapy aimed to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses in cancer patients.
Asterias developed several CAR-T therapy programs targeting different cancers:
| Program | Target | Indication | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AST-CD19 | CD19 | B-cell malignancies | Preclinical |
| AST-CD20 | CD20 | B-cell lymphoma | Preclinical |
| AST-CD123 | CD123 | Acute myeloid leukemia | Preclinical |
These programs utilized next-generation CAR constructs with:
Asterias maintained a preclinical program for pancreatic beta cell replacement:
Asterias achieved a significant regulatory milestone as the first company to receive FDA clearance for a clinical trial involving hESC-derived cells. This achievement required:
The company developed robust manufacturing processes for cell therapy products:
Asterias established partnerships with leading academic institutions:
Asterias's research contributed to the advancement of cell therapy in several areas:
When Asterias was acquired by Lineage Cell Therapeutics in 2019, the combined pipeline included:
| Program | Indication | Development Stage |
|---|---|---|
| AST-OPC1 | Spinal cord injury | Phase 1 complete |
| AST-VAC1 | Cancer immunotherapy | Phase 2 |
| AST-VAC2 | Cancer immunotherapy | Phase 1 |
| CAR-T CD19 | B-cell lymphoma | Preclinical |
| CAR-T CD20 | B-cell lymphoma | Preclinical |
| Beta cells | Type 1 diabetes | Preclinical |
Although Asterias no longer exists as an independent company, its legacy includes:
Following the acquisition, Lineage Cell Therapeutics continues to advance the programs originally developed by Asterias:
The acquired manufacturing facilities continue to operate, producing cell therapy products for clinical trials.