FUJIFILM Biosciences and NextCell Pharma AB on Wednesday announced the global commercial launch of a new research-use platform that combines stromal cells derived from umbilical cord tissue with cell culture media designed to support mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) research and development.

The launch brings together FUJIFILM Biosciences’ PRIME-XV MSC Expansion XSFM medium and NextCell’s first commercial product, NextCell-Cord RUO, a research-use-only MSC product supplied in cryopreserved form. The companies said the offering is designed to provide academic and industry researchers with a more standardized and scalable solution for MSC studies.

The platform will be available in major global markets through FUJIFILM Biosciences, either as a standalone RUO cell product or bundled with PRIME-XV media, recombinant growth factors, and related reagents.

According to the companies, MSC research has been hindered by challenges including cell heterogeneity, immunocompatibility concerns, and inefficiencies in manufacturing. NextCell-Cord RUO is intended to address these issues by offering a more consistent and accessible source of stromal cells, while the paired media aims to support reproducible expansion and downstream research applications.

The collaboration follows a previous strategic alliance between FUJIFILM Biosciences and NextCell Pharma AB. Company executives said the commercial launch represents a milestone in making NextCell’s proprietary MSC platform available to a wider international research audience.

FUJIFILM Biosciences said the new platform aligns with its broader strategy to support academia, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical partners with standardized tools for immunology, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy development. NextCell added that the product reflects its clinical manufacturing expertise translated into a research-use format intended for immediate integration into existing R&D workflows.