Michael Xiang

Oxford SimCell Ltd. is a biotechnology company using a novel inactivation method to manufacture genome-free bacterial cells with broad applications in the healthcare sector. The SimCell® technology platform gives us the power to use engineered bacteria in vivo without the possibility of growth, enabling new and effective ways to safeguard human health. SimCell® technology was developed at the University of Oxford and is exclusively licensed to Oxford SimCell Ltd. Please contact us for more information about our platform and its applications. SimCells® are genome-free, non-replicating bacteria produced by expressing a homing endonuclease within host cells, which enzymatically cleaves multiple restriction sites within the genome. This process completely halts cell division while preserving other key cellular features, making SimCells® useful for in vivo and in vitro applications that would be impossible with dividing cells. Existing chemical and irradiative bacterial inactivation technologies can be damaging to the cell. SimCells® are completely replication-deficient yet remain undamaged by our enzymatic genome-removal process, making them both safe and efficacious for use in situations where biocontainment is key. Manufacturing is a core competency at Oxford SimCell. Our production workflow lets us provide pure, high-quality SimCells® engineered for varied healthcare applications. SimCells® are stable, streamlined, bacterial chassis offering all the complexity and capability of whole cells in a safe, simplified form.