242: DMSO in Cell Therapy: Why Viability Scores Hide the Real Toxicity with Steve Oh - Part 2

What if the solution to cell therapy’s biggest cold-chain challenge comes from the biology of Arctic fish?

This conversation features Steve Oh, a leader in advanced bioprocessing, whose career has placed him at the intersection of stem cell biology, process engineering, and clinical translation. Steve Oh joins David Brühlmann to share how XT Thrive®—a next-generation cryopreservation solution drawing from nature’s antifreeze proteins—lets cells survive, thrive, and simplify manufacturing from the bench to the clinic.

Episode highlights:

• Biological insights from Arctic fish and their translation into synthetic peptide chemistry for cell preservation (00:23)
• The effect of ice crystal formation on cellular damage, and how XT Thrive® minimizes this compared to DMSO (05:32)
• Simplified logistics: reduced risk of contamination, elimination of post-thaw wash steps, and implications for therapy delivery to remote locations (07:23)
• Applicability beyond single cells—preserving organoids and potential implications for tissue engineering (09:50)
• The ease of transitioning from DMSO to the new solution in established lab protocols (10:49)
• Broader industry challenges: maintaining purity, process optimization, and reducing cost of goods in cell therapy manufacturing (12:03)
• Promising innovations in rapid cell type differentiation and barriers to scaling transformative biotech (12:50)
• The importance of supporting innovative therapies beyond short-term ROI (14:17)

Smart insight:

Next-generation cryopreservation solutions address more than just viability—they simplify transport, reduce costs, lower hands-on time, and help ensure therapy reaches patients in remote locations in optimal condition. As Steve Oh observes, these advances are critical for reducing the cost of goods, improving consistency, and enabling truly scalable cell therapy manufacturing.

If you’re interested in this topic, check out these episodes, where we explore how Minnesota’s frozen forests inspired a new wave of biotech innovation—transforming how life-saving cells are frozen, stored, and shipped.

• Episodes 161 - 162: How to Achieve 85%+ Cell Recovery Without DMSO's Toxic Side Effects with Jeffrey Allen

This is Steve’s second appearance on the podcast. You can also catch his earlier conversation with David, where they explored the challenges and opportunities of cell and gene therapy.

• Episodes 11 - 12: From Lab to Patient: Steve Oh’s Guide to Mastering Cell Therapy Process Development.

Connect with Steve Oh:

Email: skwohso@gmail.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-oh-4946261/

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