Panther Life Sciences, BioForge Team Up on Microarray Patches

Panther Life Sciences has formed a strategic alliance with Pitt BioForge to advance the production of its Microarray Patch (MAP) platform, which aims to accelerate and scale manufacturing innovations to deliver thermostable, direct-to-consumer, data-centric treatments for various ailments.

Panther Life Sciences is commercializing licensed technology developed at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. This technology established foundational scientific know-how for skin biology and MAP technology, enabling Panther to develop a pipeline of skin-based treatments for therapeutic applications. Microarray Patches (MAPs) consists of an array of microscopic projections that can penetrate the upper layers of the skin and deliver a wide variety of compounds. The collaboration with BioForge underscores Panther’s commitment to leveraging Pittsburgh’s ecosystem to produce scalable MAP-based solutions for broad access to life-changing treatments.

“Our collaboration with BioForge marks a pivotal step in advancing the large-scale manufacturing of Microarray Patches,” Panther Life Sciences CEO Carlos Bhola said. “By automating key processes, we aim to significantly reduce production costs while upholding the highest quality standards. Our Microarray Patches promise fewer side effects, greater efficacy and accessibility, and an outstanding user experience. They can be sent directly to patients for self-administration anywhere, anytime, and offer a range of data-centric features such as feedback to providers and treatment developers.”

Panther’s project at BioForge is focused on accelerating scaled manufacturing of MAPs. Central to the Panther-BioForge project is the development and demonstration of an improved, automated manufacturing line designed to reduce labor costs through cutting-edge automation; enhance production scalability; and deliver cost-effective solutions to meet global healthcare demands.

“At BioForge, we are committed to transforming theory into practice by prototyping innovative manufacturing processes,” BioForge CEO Dr. Kaigham Gabriel stated. “This project with Panther Life Sciences, one of the first three underway at BioForge, represents the type of manufacturing challenge BioForge was created to solve.” 

Panther Life Sciences’ collaboration with BioForge is set to achieve its key manufacturing innovation milestones within a year. Through this rapid development timeline, the two partners seek to translate the developed process for cGMP manufacturing of MAPs.

Panther Life Sciences is a New York-based healthtech company leveraging the skin’s unique immune properties and advanced engineering to develop shelf-stable, data-driven, and direct-to-consumer treatments. By unlocking skin biology, Panther aims to deliver therapies with greater efficacy, fewer side effects, and improved accessibility.  

BioForge’s mission is to accelerate innovations and breakthroughs in both developing and manufacturing precision medicines to speed their delivery, use and impact. Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., BioForge works to demonstrate scaling and delivery of precision medicines in less time, more efficiently, and cost-effectively.