Novo Nordisk Expands Diabetes Cell Therapy Partnership with Aspect Biosystems

January 25, 2026 — Global Biotech News

Copenhagen, Denmark / Vancouver, Canada — Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk A/S has announced an expansion of its strategic collaboration with Canadian biotechnology firm Aspect Biosystems to accelerate the development and future commercialization of cell‑based therapies for diabetes.

Under the expanded partnership, Aspect Biosystems — known for its advanced 3D bioprinting technology — will lead the development, manufacturing, and optimization of implantable insulin‑producing cell constructs, while Novo Nordisk retains strategic rights and options to increase its involvement over time.

The collaboration builds on a research alliance originally formed in 2023, with both companies aiming to harness stem cell‑derived tissues engineered through Aspect’s proprietary 3D bioprinting platforms. These printed tissues are designed to function as implantable insulin‑producing organs, potentially offering a long‑term or curative treatment for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes by restoring endogenous insulin production.

Photo by Julia Koblitz on Unsplash

In addition to enhanced R&D cooperation, the expanded agreement includes an equity investment by Novo Nordisk in Aspect Biosystems and commitments for research funding. Financial terms and investment size were not publicly disclosed. Under the deal, Novo Nordisk may also be eligible for future milestone and royalty payments tied to commercial success.

As part of the partnership, certain research and development efforts, along with manufacturing activities previously based in Denmark and the United States, will be transferred to Aspect’s facilities in Canada, where state‑of‑the‑art bio‑engineering capabilities are being deployed for advanced therapeutic tissue production.

Aspect’s 3D bioprinting approach leverages bio‑inks derived from decellularized human pancreatic tissue and alginate matrices, enabling the construction of functional, insulin‑secreting tissues that could potentially reduce or eliminate the need for daily insulin injections.

Photo by Trnava University on Unsplash

Industry analysts view the expanded collaboration as a significant step in the wider effort to move cell‑based regenerative therapies toward real‑world clinical application, particularly for chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes — an area where demand for durable, long‑lasting solutions is rapidly growing.

Source: Novo Nordisk expands diabetes cell therapy partnership with Aspect Biosystems — Reuters (January 20, 2026)