'Feeling Pride, Regret, and Deep Thought': Newcastle EnviroTech Stops Business Operations

CellRev Shuts Down After 'Potential Serious Misconduct'

In a surprising turn of events, CellRev, a Newcastle University spinout founded in 2018, has ceased operations. The company, which initially focused on cultivated meat but later pivoted towards life sciences, concentrating on reagents and data-driven opportunities, entered administration on 12th August, resulting in the loss of nine jobs.

CellRev's enzymatic platform, based on a breakthrough discovery, received funding exceeding £4m, including Innovate UK grants. The company secured a place on the BioTools Innovator Program and attracted interest from pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and strategic partners in vaccine development.

During its active period, CellRev launched pilot projects and was working with global players on next-generation meat alternatives and vaccine development. The company aimed to tackle bottlenecks in cell culture, with applications ranging from cultivated meat to cell and gene therapies.

Despite these advancements, the company ultimately ceased operations due to running out of time. Chris Green, the CEO of CellRev, announced the company had ceased trading on LinkedIn. Two weeks after the initial announcement, Green posted cryptically that the first pharma customer had responded to "get the paperwork sorted."

However, the funding environment and competitive nature of the sector led to CellRev falling into administration. Administrators from Armstrong Watson confirmed that all CellRev staff were made redundant, and work is underway to realize the company's assets.

In a statement, Chris Green expressed that what CellRev set out to do was transformative and needed, but they ran out of time. Green also expressed regret, stating that he wished to rewind time in light of the company's collapse. Co-founder and CSO of CellRev, Miotto, echoed Green's sentiments, stating that the collapse of the company was a significant disappointment.

CellRev filed three patent families related to its work, and during its active period, it secured a place on the BioTools Innovator Program. The potential customers interested in CellRev's product in the latest company version included pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, collaborating specifically on projects related to cell therapy development and regenerative medicine advancements.

Unrelated to CellRev, Glasgow-based M Squared Lasers has collapsed into administration. As the dust settles on CellRev's collapse, the life sciences sector will undoubtedly feel the loss of a company that aimed to push the boundaries of cell culture technology.