From donated blood to biotech: CytoGrowth Solutions launches in OKC

CytoGrowth Solutions is bringing a new kind of biotech innovation to Oklahoma City, one rooted in an unlikely place: donated blood.

Launched as an initiative of Our Blood Institute, CytoGrowth Solutions develops specialized blood-and cell-based products used to support the growing cell therapy industry, particularly therapies designed to help patients fight cancer and other serious diseases using their own immune systems.

Cell therapies work by collecting immune cells from a patient or donor, modifying them to recognize disease and expanding those cells outside the body before they are infused back into the patient. That process requires large amounts of specialized nutrients and blood-derived materials, many of which are currently in limited supply.

“People rely on things like expired platelets and male AB serum, which is 2% of the population, as the primary thing that helps their reengineered cells grow,” said Charles Mooney, vice president of BioDevelopment at OBI. “There’s not enough of that in the world to support one blockbuster drug, much less dozens of drugs.”

CytoGrowth Solutions was created to help solve that bottleneck. Using methods developed through OBI’s research and development work, the company converts previously underused blood components into nutrient products that can support cell growth for therapeutic development.

“We’re taking salvage products, things that were being thrown out before, and turning them into lifesaving contributions and cures,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of OBI.

The company recently opened a dedicated Oklahoma City facility that will manufacture four products designed to support cell and gene therapy development. According to OBI, the products are designed to provide more abundant and scalable alternatives to materials currently facing supply shortages.

The launch also adds another piece to Oklahoma City’s growing bioscience and innovation ecosystem. CytoGrowth Solutions begins operations with 12 employees, including scientists, lab technicians and regulatory specialists, and expects to continue growing over the next several years.

Jeff Seymour, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Innovation District, said the company reflects the type of research-driven commercialization helping shape Oklahoma City’s future.

“At its basic core, innovation is the practical implementation of ideas,” Seymour said during the company’s opening event.

OBI leaders say the long-term goal is to help expand access to lifesaving therapies by removing supply chain challenges that currently limit how quickly treatments can be developed and manufactured.

“We’re excited to be a part of bringing lifesaving therapies to thousands of patients,” Mooney said.