[Edaily Reporter Kim Seung-kwon ] “Xcell Therapeutics Inc.” (hereinafter “Xcell Therapeutics), a company specializing in cell and gene therapy (CGT) culture media, announced on the 13th that it has signed a white-label supply agreement with German life sciences company “PL BioScience GmbH” (hereinafter “PL Bio”) for its “Advanced Basal Media” product, a key material for cell culture.

This agreement marks the first supply of “Advanced Basal Media”—a product developed by Excel using its proprietary technology—to the European market through PL Bio’s global network in Germany. It is significant as it signifies the full-scale entry of domestically produced core cell culture materials into overseas markets.

Cell culture media consist of basal media and supplements. Basal media are composed of essential nutrients—such as amino acids, vitamins, and minerals—necessary for cell survival, while supplements contain various functional components, such as growth factors, to support cell growth and maintain cellular characteristics.

The Advanced Basal Media, for which the supply contract was recently signed, is a basal medium product developed by removing the supplements from Excel’s chemically defined medium (CellCor™) and optimizing it for use with PL Bio’s HPL (Human Platelet Lysate). The combination of Excel’s cell culture technology and PL Bio’s HPL is expected to result in a next-generation cell culture solution that maximizes cell proliferation efficiency and culture performance.

PL Bio is a Germany-based life sciences company and the only company worldwide to hold a patent for HPL gamma-irradiation technology. HPL contains platelet-derived growth factors and is used as a key cell culture supplement that influences cell proliferation efficiency and safety; it is also gaining attention as a xeno-free cell culture material that replaces animal-derived components (FBS).

PL Bio’s flagship product, “ELAREM™ Ultimate-FD PLUS (GMP-grade),” is an HPL-based cell culture supplement that undergoes a gamma-irradiation process for virus inactivation; it serves as a key solution for supporting the production of high-quality cells in the fields of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Excel signed a distribution and supply agreement with PL Bio last April and is currently supplying and selling ELAREM™ Ultimate-FD PLUS in the domestic market.

Dr. Hatim Hemeda, CEO of PL Bio, stated, “This white-label supply agreement is significant not merely as a product supply arrangement, but as a strategic partnership that combines the core technologies of both companies.” He added, “Excel’s Advanced Basal Media has demonstrated superior performance in comparative evaluations against products from leading global companies, and we determined that Excel is the optimal partner capable of generating high synergy with our HPL products.”

He continued, “By fully implementing a cross-selling strategy that integrates both companies’ core technology products in Europe and Korea, we will address the diverse needs of global biotech companies and jointly expand business opportunities and market reach for both companies.”

Lee Eui-il, CEO of Xcell Therapeutics Inc., stated, “Basal Media and HPL are essential materials that form the core of the cell-based biotech industry’s growth,” adding, “The combination of our two companies’ advanced technological capabilities will serve as a significant turning point in providing differentiated cell culture solutions in the European biotech market.”

He continued, “This agreement is highly significant as it marks the first white-label supply deal signed after Excel’s media technology was recognized for its competitiveness by a global company,” and emphasized, “Starting in the third quarter of this year, we will begin full-scale supply of Advanced Basal Media, primarily targeting the European market, by leveraging PL Bio’s global sales network. Using this as a springboard, we will expand our global customer base and further accelerate the growth of our cell culture materials business.”