Equipment for shipping cryopreserved T cell therapies

Cancer treatments are being transformed by T-Cell therapies and present a huge global
opportunity. However, logistical problems transporting the cells to and from the patient are
restricting the industry’s growth. There is an urgent need for a portable shipping device that
combines; controlled sample freezing, temperature controlled shipping, data logging, short
term frozen storage and thawing.
This project will develop a basic prototype, free of liquid nitrogen, optimised for the shipping
of T-cell therapies. This will be an electrically powered system based on a Stirling
cryocooler, with a target isothermal hold temperature of -120°C. The system will be able to
operate on mains power, a 12V vehicle supply or via an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).
The storage chamber will be vacuum insulated and the device will maintain -100°C for 24 hrs
when disconnected from all power.
To allow transport of the source T-cells, the equipment will also be able to carry out the
controlled rate freezing (CRF) of samples. The equipment will also act as a storage device at
the clinical site, maintaining the sample temperature below -100°C until required for
treatment. In discussions with a range of end users (academic and commercial) we have
confirmed that there is currently no suitable cryogenic service for autologous treatments
which can offer CRF of the source cells, temperature controlled transport, data logging, short
term storage and thawing.