Big Breakthroughs, Born in Edmonton
When the Health Innovation Hub (HIH) first opened its doors in 2022, PanTHERA CryoSolutions was one of its very first tenants. Today, it’s one of its biggest success stories. The company has been on a steady rise since its inception, recently reaching a major milestone: an acquisition deal with U.S.-based BioLife Solutions – a world-leading manufacturer of bioproduction tools and services in the cell and gene therapy space. The move promises expanded opportunities, greater market reach, and solidifies the PanTHERA’s place as a global innovator in cryopreservation technology.
And it all started right here, in Edmonton’s growing health innovation ecosystem.
PanTHERA CryoSolutions was co-founded by Jason Acker, a Professor at the University of Alberta and serial entrepreneur who is now senior director with the newly acquired Canadian subsidiary of BioLife Solutions. Sitting down to reflect on the company’s journey, Acker shared not just the story of PanTHERA’s growth, but the real-world challenges that their technology is solving – challenges that cost the healthcare and biotech industries significant time, money and product integrity.
He points to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as a clear example of how outdated cryopreservation methods can cause costly problems. “Think back to COVID, when they wanted to ship the new vaccines,” he says. “They used very costly, dedicated aircraft to transport the products as the vaccines were subject to transient warming injury. Product temperature had to maintain temperature within very tight margins (like when shipping cell therapy products).”
Reimagining Cold Storage for Modern Medicine
PanTHERA CryoSolutions founders (L to R) Dr. Jason Acker & Dr. Robert Ben
Transient warming injury occurs when frozen materials experience short-term temperature increases. Even brief warming can cause damaging ice crystals to grow within cells – reducing the effectiveness of treatments like cell therapies and rendering biological products, including vaccines, unusable if not managed properly. Traditional cryopreservation techniques – some dating back nearly 75 years – aren’t designed to handle the precision required for today’s advanced biologics. That’s where PanTHERA’s breakthrough comes in.
At the heart of their innovation are ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs), a patented technology developed to protect cells during freezing and thawing. Acker explains: “In partnership with Dr. Robert Ben from the University of Ottawa, we discovered and developed new molecules [IRIs] that are very potent protectants in cell-based therapies.”
These carbohydrate-based molecules, sometimes called “anti-freeze compounds,” significantly reduce the impact of transient warming injury, improving the reliability and viability of cryopreserved products throughout the supply chain.
“The challenge is, if you’re going to manufacture some kind of cell-based product, you need to be able to move that product from the manufacturing site to end-use distribution,” says Acker. That may sound simple, but the reality is that even small disruptions can jeopardize high-value therapies worth millions – or even billions – of dollars in R&D and commercialization investments.
Proving What’s Possible in Edmonton’s Innovative Ecosystem
PanTHERA’s work is not just about keeping things cold; it’s about maintaining the therapeutic value of complex biologics and ensuring patients receive safe, effective treatments. Acker urges companies to rethink how cryopreservation fits into their broader development and distribution strategy.
PanTHERA CryoSolutions’ story is one of thoughtful growth and strategic collaboration. When it first joined the Health Innovation Hub, the innovation space was just beginning to build momentum.
“At the time it was a little lonely,” Acker recalls with a laugh. “There wasn’t much activity in the HIH. That has since changed as the ecosystem has grown.”
As a seasoned entrepreneur – PanTHERA is Acker’s third spin-out company – he knew what his team needed, and more importantly, what they didn’t. While the company didn’t require basic startup supports, HIH played a key role in helping them build critical connections.
“What we did need, and what we definitely benefitted from, with HIH, was the networking events,” Acker notes. These connections helped raise the company’s profile and laid the groundwork for future partnerships and growth.
Eventually, PanTHERA relocated to the Canadian Blood Services building on the University of Alberta campus, seeking access to more specialized facilities and equipment. “We left because we needed the proper lab space,” says Acker. “That’s still a problem in Edmonton. We need more lab space for biotech to grow.”
From its early days at HIH to international partnerships and groundbreaking biotech, PanTHERA CryoSolutions is a shining example of what Edmonton’s collaborative innovation ecosystem can produce. It’s a reminder that with the right environment, world-class science can thrive here – and change the way industries think about technology, health and the future.
PanTHERA may have outgrown its first home, but its roots in Edmonton’s Health Innovation Hub remain strong – and its success story is still unfolding.