Celularity to Present Data Showing Senescent Cell Elimination by Off-the-Shelf Natural Killer Cells Derived from Human Placental Cells

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celularity Inc. (NASDAQ: CELU) (“Celularity”), a biotechnology company developing placental-derived allogeneic cell therapies and advanced biomaterial products, announced today that it will present in vitro data from its investigational natural killer (NK) cell therapy programs at this year’s American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting. The preclinical data, which suggest that Celularity’s placenta-derived unmodified natural killer (NK) cells (CYNK-001) and genetically modified NK cells (CYNK-201) may serve as potent and selective senolytic agents for use in addressing age-related diseases, will be presented on May 9, 2024.

Senescent cells are key drivers in the process of age-related cellular corruption at the heart of degenerative diseases, cancer and immuno-senescence (the progressive decline in immune function that occurs with age). These cells are unique in that they eventually stop multiplying but do not die; instead, they transform into the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and continue to release chemicals that can promote inflammation and tumor progression. Moreover, if not eliminated, these cells impair the normal regenerative process that restores function to organs and tissues.

Celularity is building a broad technology platform that leverages the placenta’s unique immunobiology as a source of highly expandable, off-the-shelf cells, as well as a diverse portfolio of cell therapy investigational products to address age-related diseases, including cancer and degenerative diseases. Celularity believes these preclinical data demonstrate the potential of its assets to target and selectively remove damaged and abnormal cells expressing stress ligands, such as senescent, virally infected and cancer cells.

“Celularity believes in the broad, but so far underrealized, potential of cell therapies. We continue to investigate cellular immunotherapy in age-related diseases, and these data are an important, continued step in demonstrating how our therapeutic assets may be used to eliminate senescent cells,” said Celularity’s CEO and Founder Dr. Robert Hariri, M.D., Ph.D. “Removing these aging, senescent cells, which we have termed ‘senoablation,’ may represent an important clinical approach to address the high societal cost of age-associated diseases and disabilities.”

The ASGCT Annual Meeting will take place on May 7 through 11, 2024, in Baltimore, Md.

About Celularity 
Celularity Inc. (NASDAQ: CELU) is a regenerative medicine company developing and commercializing advanced biomaterial products and allogeneic, cryopreserved, placental-derived cell therapies, all derived from the postpartum placenta. Its therapeutic programs target aging-related diseases, including degenerative diseases, cancer, and immune disorders, using mesenchymal-like adherent stromal cells (MLASCs), T-cells engineered with CAR (CAR T-cells), and genetically modified and unmodified natural killer (NK) cells. Celularity believes that, by harnessing the placenta’s unique biology and ready availability, it can develop therapeutic solutions that address significant unmet global needs for effective, accessible, and affordable therapies.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as well as within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements,” including those relating to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would” and the negative of terms like these or other comparable terminology, and other words or terms of similar meaning. The forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the potential of Celularity’s CYNK cells to target and selectively remove damaged and abnormal cells expressing stress ligands, such as senescent, virally-infected, and cancer cells, the ability of Celularity’s CYNK investigational products to remove aging senescent cells, the importance of Celularity’s approach to cell therapy to address the high societal cost of age-associated disease and disability, among others. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: Celularity’s liquidity situation; the volatility in Celularity’s stock price; inherent risks in biotechnological development, including with respect to the development of novel biomaterial therapies; ; along with those risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Celularity’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 31, 2023, and other filings with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Celularity does not presently know, or that Celularity currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect Celularity’s current expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Subsequent events and developments could cause assessments to change. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Celularity’s views as of any subsequent date, and Celularity undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Investor Contact:
Carlos Ramirez
Senior Vice President, Celularity Inc.
Carlos.ramirez@celularity.com

Media Contact:
Ali Nagy / Michaela Fawcett
KCSA Strategic Communications
anagy@kcsa.com / mfawcett@kcsa.com