Korean biotech firm DewCell partners with Thermo Fisher on artificial platelet project

DewCell CTO Kim Chi-hwa left poses for a photo with Thermo Fisher Scientific director Han Jun-sung to celebrate the two firms partnership June 30 2025 DewCell — DewCell CTO Kim Chi-hwa and Thermo Fisher Scientific director Han Jun-sung at the partnership signing ceremony, June 30, 2025. Courtesy of DewCell

SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - DewCell, a South Korean biotechnology company specializing in stem cell-based therapies, announced Tuesday that it has launched a collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific of the United States to develop a customized culture medium for the large-scale production of artificial platelets.

The partnership will focus on creating a serum-free, animal-origin-free medium tailored specifically to platelet cell cultivation. DewCell said the joint effort aims to maximize manufacturing efficiency while adhering to stringent safety and regulatory standards.

Lee Min-woo, DewCell’s chief executive, said in a statement the firm now positioned to simultaneously advance production optimization, material safety, and global compliance through a fully customized solution for artificial platelet production.

Artificial platelets — used to support blood clotting in patients with bleeding disorders or undergoing surgery — are seen as a potential answer to the growing global shortage of blood donations.

As the need for reliable, scalable blood products intensifies, biotech firms around the world have accelerated efforts to develop synthetic or lab-grown alternatives.

DewCell said it plans to expand partnerships with global life science companies as it pushes to commercialize its proprietary stem cell-based platelet manufacturing technology.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of laboratory equipment and biomanufacturing services.

Kim Dong-young davekim0807@ajupress.com