The Newcastle business has struck a strategic deal with JH Health Ltd, a Saudi Arabian company
Alastair Carrington, CEO, Atelerix(Image: Atelerix)
Tyneside biotech business Atelerix is set for overseas growth after striking a strategic partnership with a Saudi Arabian company.
The Newcastle University spin-out – which takes its name from the behaviours of hedgehogs, which have the genus name Atelerix – has revolutionised how cells are stored and transported, having been formed eight years ago to disrupt the cell preservation market.
Based at the Biosphere at Newcastle Helix, the firm’s technology is inspired by hedgehogs, including the African four-toed pygmy hedgehog, which hibernates when the temperature dips below around 20C. The company’s patented hydrogel encapsulation technology allows cells to do just the same.
Thanks to its hydrogel-based cell preservation solutio, biomaterials which are essential for drug discovery and pharmaceutical research, can be transported without freezing.
The Newcastle business has now struck a deal with JH Health Ltd, a Saudi Arabian company focused on medical and health-related technology. The partnership grants JH Health exclusive rights to use and distribute Atelerix’s hydrogel-based cell and tissue preservation solutions in the Middle East, a move which significantly boost Atelerix’s global commercial footprint with new regional manufacturing and distribution channels.
The deal comes as Atelerix responds to increasing global demand for its technology by looking to establish new strategic partnerships. The partnerships can provide local technical expertise and regional supply in key markets, including China, Europe and Africa.
African pygmy hedgehogs – their hibernation skills inspired Atelerix’s tech
Alastair Carrington, CEO of Atelerix, said this latest agreement with JH Health is a significant development, providing access to extensive networks and distribution channels needed to enter the Middle East’s growing life science and healthcare market.
The partnership with JH Health will primarily focus on enabling the stable transport of biological samples for clinical diagnostics and research use, including the development of a new biobank within the region. Atelerix will lead regulatory approvals for its technology with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, backed at a local level by JH Health.
The Saudi Arabian business will also provide financial support and strategic expertise for Atelerix’s operational scale-up in the region, including giving it capabilities for high volume manufacturing while also supporting opportunities for new research partnerships to further develop its technology.
Mr Carrington said: “By partnering with JH Health, we gain access to the deep market expertise and local support needed to establish our operations in the Middle East. Their strategic investment will enable us to build out our local manufacturing capabilities, ensuring we are equipped to deliver the future of biological transport logistics and meet the needs of the rapidly growing life science market in the region. This partnership is an integral next step in our strategy to bring our advanced cell preservation solutions to customers, worldwide.”
Mohammed Al Jumah, CEO at JH Health, said: “We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with Atelerix to bring advanced biosample preservation technologies to the Middle East. By combining Atelerix’s pioneering solutions with our regional expertise, this collaboration enhances access to advanced tools that support biomedical research, accelerate scientific discovery, and strengthen clinical development across the region, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes.”
The deal comes a year after Atelerix signed an exclusive distribution agreement with MineBio, a leading Chinese supply chain and logistics organisation, to act as the sole distribution partner for Atelerix’s products in China.
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