Led · Equity · Nov 2021

Ncardia develops stem cell–based solutions built on human iPSC technology to accelerate drug discovery and enable iPSC‑based cell therapies. Its service and technology platform includes bioreactor‑based scalable manufacturing of iPSC‑derived cells, assay development, disease modeling, and cell‑based screening. The company operates worldwide with facilities, offices, and staff throughout Europe and North America. Ncardia announced a strategic partnership that brings more than $60 million in capital from Kiniciti, which takes a control stake. Management says the funding will be used to expand globally and to invest in cGMP/GMP capabilities for iPSC‑based cell therapy platforms, build additional human cellular models to better predict safety and efficacy, and develop novel manufacturing technologies for allogeneic immuno‑oncology platforms. Ncardia’s stated goal is to enable biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate development by integrating human iPSC technologies into discovery and cell therapy workflows. Ncardia develops, produces and commercializes high-quality, fully functional human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiovascular and neuronal cell types and ready-to-use assay systems. Its product portfolio includes frozen cardiac and neural products and the CardioplateTM quality-controlled assay plates, and the company provides in-house assay development and extensive customer support. Ncardia commercializes assay services for drug safety and efficacy testing and offers cardiovascular services from disease modeling to drug efficacy screening. The company has built a strong portfolio of patents covering the use of stem cell models for these applications. Ncardia is privately held, operates in Europe and the US, and was established following the merger of Pluriomics and Axiogenesis. Management says the company plans continued international growth and further development of next-generation safety assays and high-throughput cardiovascular screening capabilities. Pluriomics is a biotechnology company based in Leiden, The Netherlands, and Gosselies, Belgium, focused on human cardiovascular stem cell technology. It manufactures human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (Pluricyte® Cardiomyocytes) using a serum-free medium intended to enhance maturation and function. Led by CEO Stefan Braam, the company aims to deliver cardiac drug discovery and safety solutions built on its iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte technology. The company plans to use new funding to speed international growth and broaden its product capabilities. Specific product development priorities include cardiac safety assays and expanded capabilities in cardiovascular drug discovery and high-throughput screening. The article does not disclose operating metrics such as revenue or user numbers. Pluriomics develops stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and related assays intended for drug discovery and development. The company is preparing to launch its Pluricyte cardiomyocytes, human cardiac muscle cells for use in screening and research. Its Pluricyte cell‑based assays are designed to detect potentially toxic side‑effects of new medicines early in development with high accuracy. Pluriomics will use the Series A proceeds to further develop these cardiomyocytes and assays and to commercialize the technologies. The company plans to strengthen its R&D and commercial team in Leiden and to set up a production facility in Gosselies, Belgium. Pluriomics is led by co‑founders Herman Spolders (CEO) and Stefan Braam (Chief Scientific Officer).