Cellcolabs and InnoHK CNRM partner to advance MSC therapy for knee osteoarthritis
Stockholm, Sweden – 2026-02-26 – Cellcolabs today announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), part of Tthe Chinese University of Hong Kong and established under the InnoHK, to establish a strategic international collaboration supporting a Phase I/II clinical trial of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for knee osteoarthritis.
The collaboration is designed to accelerate the translation of regenerative medicine research into clinical application. Under the agreement, Cellcolabs will contribute GMP-grade MSCs manufactured using production protocols developed through more than 25 years of research at the Karolinska Institutet, supporting CNRM’s upcoming clinical trial.
The MoU signing took place at Cellcolabs’ headquarters in Stockholm and was attended by CNRM Director Prof. Patrick Yung and Petter Hallman, acting CEO from Cellcolabs.
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability globally and represents a major unmet medical need. By combining CNRM’s clinical research expertise with Cellcolabs’ industrial-scale MSC manufacturing platform, the partnership aims to advance standardized, high-quality cell therapies for musculoskeletal disease and ageing-related conditions.
“This partnership marks a major step forward in turning rigorous academic research into effective treatments for patients with knee osteoarthritis.” Said Prof. Patrick Yung.
“For us, this kind of collaboration is exactly what the field needs,” said Petter Hallman, acting CEO at Cellcolabs. “This collaboration reflects our focus on enabling high-quality clinical research through robust cell manufacturing and international collaboration. Working with CNRM and CUHK brings together academic research and industrial-scale production, which is essential to move promising science into well-designed clinical trials and, ultimately, scalable therapeutic development.”
About CNRM
CNRM is supported by the InnoHK initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. CNRM is dedicated to revolutionizing therapeutic interventions for neuromusculoskeletal disorders. CNRM translates research and development into practical applications that improve the mobility and quality of life for individuals with injuries or degeneration in neuromusculoskeletal tissues. Focusing on translational and commercialization aspects, the center harnesses innovative solutions in stem cells, biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and personalized medicine.
About Cellcolabs
Cellcolabs is a Swedish biotech company that specialises in industrial-scale production of mesenchymal stem cells. Cellcolabs’ mission is to prevent and treat diseases by making high quality stem cells available and affordable through industrial scale production and collaborations. The MSCs produced at Cellcolabs follow the same production protocol that has been developed by the Karolinska Institute for over 20 years. Cellcolabs was founded in 2021 and is led by acting CEO Petter Hallman.
