From BioPlanta to BIONCaRT
BioPlanta becomes BIONCaRT – bm|t, TGFS, private investors and founders jointly invest a seven-figure sum to conduct a clinical trial
bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen (bm|t), TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, private investors and the founder are investing a seven-figure sum in BIONCaRT GmbH (formerly BioPlanta GmbH) in a seed financing round. The aim is to conduct a phase I/IIa clinical trial for the market approval of a human stem cell therapeutic for the treatment of focal cartilage damage in the knee joint.
The bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH and TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, together with private investors and the founder, have invested a seven-figure sum in the Saxon-Thuringian life science company BioPlanta as part of seed financing. Having reached this important milestone, the company has now changed its name to BIONCaRT GmbH.
BIONCaRT has developed the product MesemCart, an allogeneic cell therapy (ATMP) that uses stem cells from umbilical cord tissue to treat acute or chronic cartilage damage in the knee joint. With the new financing, BIONCaRT plans to conduct clinical trials of the first allogeneic cell therapy based on human mesenchymal stromal cells in Europe for the described indication and to prepare the market launch of the product in Germany and Europe.
Over the next three years, clinical trials (Phase I/IIa) will be conducted to confirm the safety of the ATMP and the results from the proof of concept. In particular, the focus is on significantly reducing pain and improving patients’ quality of life. Further treatment goals are the complete integration of the cell-loaded matrix and the formation of new hyaline cartilage. BIONCaRT is cooperating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig and the University Center for Orthopaedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery at TU Dresden and the Coordination Center for Clinical Studies at TU Dresden. As soon as the first results of the phase I/IIa study are available, national approval for MesemCart will be applied for. The market launch of the therapeutic product in Germany is scheduled to begin in 2027. Marketing of the product throughout Europe will begin after completion of the Phase III clinical trial and European market approval in 2030.
Further information
The bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH, based in Erfurt, is a subsidiary of Thüringer Aufbaubank and the leading address for venture capital and risk capital financing in Thuringia. bm|t currently manages twelve funds with a total volume of around EUR 445 million, which invest in innovative companies in almost all sectors and in all phases of company development – both in the start-up and growth phases – or in company follow up situations.
The TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen provides technology-oriented founders with equity capital for the seed and start-up phase. The fund was first set up in 2008 by the Free State of Saxony (including ERDF funds) and Saxon financial institutions and has since supported over 100 start-ups. The TGFS entered its third fund generation in 2023. The TGFS focuses on young, innovative, technology-oriented companies in the ITC, semiconductor and microsystems technology, medical technology, life sciences, environmental and energy technology and new media sectors that are based or have their place of business in Saxony.
BIONCaRT GmbH emerged from BioPlanta GmbH, which has been developing and manufacturing cell therapy products from mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical application in humans and conducting preclinical studies for several years. As a research-based pharmaceutical company, BIONCaRT is involved in the translation of biomedical pharmaceuticals for clinical application in humans, in particular for the treatment of orthopaedic diseases. The focus is on allogeneic therapy concepts (use of cells from other patients).
BioPlanta becomes BIONCaRT – bm|t, TGFS, private investors and founders jointly invest a seven-figure sum to conduct a clinical trial
bm|t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen (bm|t), TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, private investors and the founder are investing a seven-figure sum in BIONCaRT GmbH (formerly BioPlanta GmbH) in a seed financing round. The aim is to conduct a phase I/IIa clinical trial for the market approval of a human stem cell therapeutic for the treatment of focal cartilage damage in the knee joint.
The bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH and TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen, together with private investors and the founder, have invested a seven-figure sum in the Saxon-Thuringian life science company BioPlanta as part of seed financing. Having reached this important milestone, the company has now changed its name to BIONCaRT GmbH.
BIONCaRT has developed the product MesemCart, an allogeneic cell therapy (ATMP) that uses stem cells from umbilical cord tissue to treat acute or chronic cartilage damage in the knee joint. With the new financing, BIONCaRT plans to conduct clinical trials of the first allogeneic cell therapy based on human mesenchymal stromal cells in Europe for the described indication and to prepare the market launch of the product in Germany and Europe.
Over the next three years, clinical trials (Phase I/IIa) will be conducted to confirm the safety of the ATMP and the results from the proof of concept. In particular, the focus is on significantly reducing pain and improving patients’ quality of life. Further treatment goals are the complete integration of the cell-loaded matrix and the formation of new hyaline cartilage. BIONCaRT is cooperating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig and the University Center for Orthopaedics, Trauma and Plastic Surgery at TU Dresden and the Coordination Center for Clinical Studies at TU Dresden. As soon as the first results of the phase I/IIa study are available, national approval for MesemCart will be applied for. The market launch of the therapeutic product in Germany is scheduled to begin in 2027. Marketing of the product throughout Europe will begin after completion of the Phase III clinical trial and European market approval in 2030.
Further information
The bm-t beteiligungsmanagement thüringen GmbH, based in Erfurt, is a subsidiary of Thüringer Aufbaubank and the leading address for venture capital and risk capital financing in Thuringia. bm|t currently manages twelve funds with a total volume of around EUR 445 million, which invest in innovative companies in almost all sectors and in all phases of company development – both in the start-up and growth phases – or in company follow up situations.
The TGFS Technologiegründerfonds Sachsen provides technology-oriented founders with equity capital for the seed and start-up phase. The fund was first set up in 2008 by the Free State of Saxony (including ERDF funds) and Saxon financial institutions and has since supported over 100 start-ups. The TGFS entered its third fund generation in 2023. The TGFS focuses on young, innovative, technology-oriented companies in the ITC, semiconductor and microsystems technology, medical technology, life sciences, environmental and energy technology and new media sectors that are based or have their place of business in Saxony.
BIONCaRT GmbH emerged from BioPlanta GmbH, which has been developing and manufacturing cell therapy products from mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical application in humans and conducting preclinical studies for several years. As a research-based pharmaceutical company, BIONCaRT is involved in the translation of biomedical pharmaceuticals for clinical application in humans, in particular for the treatment of orthopaedic diseases. The focus is on allogeneic therapy concepts (use of cells from other patients).
