Like many organizations in our field, WiCell navigated a year shaped by uncertain economic headwinds and unexpected shifts in research funding and priorities. These challenges tested every part of the scientific ecosystem. Despite this, WiCell successfully delivered uninterrupted services, products and support to researchers worldwide with uncompromising quality. This is an achievement I am especially proud of as we close out 2025.
At the same time, it was also a year of impactful scientific progress. We saw three companies initiate pivotal phase three clinical trials (BlueRock Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Gameto), and additional PSC-derived cell therapies continued to mature through the clinical pipeline. These wins are powerful reminders that the work happening in our field is no longer theoretical—it is translating into real therapeutic impact for patients. Alongside the growth and maturation of the field, 2025 brought new milestones for WiCell across our services, products, and operations.
Our First Full Year in the New cGMP Lab
2025 marked our first full operational year in WiCell’s cGMP testing laboratory, a milestone that reflects years of preparation and investment. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s work related to the continuous improvement of our quality systems to ensure regulatory compliance and to meet the needs of our customers to support their translational programs.
Our cGMP assays (karyotyping, STR profiling, and FISH testing) are also closely aligned with ISSCR standards for the use of human stem cells in basic research—guidelines that our own Dr. Tenneille Ludwig played a significant role in shaping. Being able to offer cGMP assays that are a subset of the testing standards advocated by the field gives our clients entering or already in the clinical pipeline confidence that the data they are submitting to regulatory bodies meets the strict regulatory requirements of clinical research.
WiCell remains the only organization where researchers can access both cGMP-quality starting materials and cGMP testing. We have been here to support researchers from the very beginning—dating back to when the first human embryonic stem cell lines were derived—and we continue to be the only truly integrated start-to-clinic partner in the field. That level of integration provides the continuity and confidence researchers need as programs move toward translational and clinical development.
Expanding Our Stem Cell Catalog and Services Portfolio
This year, our stem cell catalog continued to grow with the addition of:
- NHLBI Next Gen – QT Interval and ECG Cardiac Traits iPSCORE Cell Lines
- PACS2 Syndrome
- EIF3F-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder hiPSC Lines
- Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) Isogenic Stem Cell Collection to Research Parkinson’s Disease (iSCORE-PD)
These additions bring our total stem cell line offerings to over 1550, offering global researchers access to high-value, well-characterized pluripotent stem cell lines across multiple disease areas. We continue to accept deposits to the WiCell stem cell bank, where depositing institutions retain ownership of cell lines and WiCell makes these lines available to academic and nonprofit investigators in perpetuity.
We also expanded our service offerings with the development of a new Oncopanel Assay, which will be offered on either Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) or Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) platforms. This assay provides targeted analysis of 65 cancer-associated genes that may influence stem cell integrity, identifying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants that could compromise genomic stability. Adding this capability strengthens WiCell’s established suite of stem cell characterization services and helps researchers maintain confidence in the identity and integrity of their stem cell lines.
A New Website Designed for Scientists
This year, we also launched our redesigned website, providing users with a cleaner interface, faster catalog search, and integrated Bioz research tool that offer real-time access to relevant citations. The Bioz Content Hub includes improved search functionality, a citation map, and now, direct links from each publication to the associated product pages. Together, these features improve the customer experience and help researchers navigate our catalog more efficiently. These practical but impactful updates meaningfully improve how researchers interact with us day-to-day, and they reflect our belief that supporting science means making work faster and easier.
Pricing Update
WiCell has always been a cost-conscious organization, working hard to deliver high-quality materials and services while keeping them financially accessible to the scientific community. In fact, our pricing for cell lines has remained flat since 2011, and we have absorbed rising costs internally through operational efficiencies wherever possible.
However, this year, external factors such as increased supply chain costs and broader inflationary pressures have made a pricing adjustment necessary. Even with this change, our pricing remains highly competitive for the level of quality materials we provide.
To continue supporting researchers we have introduced new bundled pricing options for our most frequently combined assays:
- Karyotyping, STR profiling, and Mycoplasma testing
- Karyotyping, STR profiling, Mycoplasma testing, and Pluripotency testing
These bundles offer notable savings and ensure that your stem cell lines meet the quality expectations of collaborators, regulators, and downstream manufacturing partners.
Our goal remains the same: to uphold the highest standards of scientific quality while providing strong value to the community we serve.
Looking Ahead to 2026
In the year ahead, we remain focused on providing the PSC lines, characterization services, technical expertise, and customer support that allow researchers to address new scientific questions and advance their therapeutic programs. By maintaining the highest standards of stem cell integrity and scientific rigor, and continuing to grow our portfolio, we continue to invest in the areas that matter most to the scientific community.
As always, we move forward with a single question in mind: How can we become better partners to support your work in the coming year? I’m confident that 2026 will bring new opportunities for progress, and I look forward to continuing this work together.
Warm wishes for a joyful and restful holiday season with your loved ones.
All the best,
Robert
Robert Drape, CEO