Kidswell Bio Corporation and Treehill Partners launch Kidswell USA to advance SQ-SHED cell therapy for cerebral palsy, targeting disease-modifying treatment development in the US.
Written By: Samiksha Jadhav BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Kidswell Bio Corporation and Treehill Partners have announced the formation of Kidswell USA, a new regenerative medicine company established to accelerate the clinical development of Kidswell’s cell therapy pipeline in the United States. The company will prioritize cerebral palsy (CP) as its lead indication.
Shinya Kurebayashi, President and CEO of Kidswell Bio Corporation, highlighted the strategic importance of the US market, noting that the partnership provides a clinically and financially optimized pathway for advancing innovative therapies targeting underserved conditions.
Cerebral palsy affects approximately 1 in 345 children in the US, with an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Current treatment options remain largely symptomatic, underscoring the need for disease-modifying therapies.
SHED Platform: A Novel Regenerative Approach
Kidswell Bio is developing a distinctive stem cell platform based on stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). These cells are being investigated for their regenerative and neuroprotective potential.
The company’s lead investigational therapy, SQ-SHED, has demonstrated encouraging early clinical signals in cerebral palsy, supporting continued advancement.
Strategic Structure of Kidswell USA
Under the collaboration framework:
- Kidswell Bio Corporation will contribute its clinical-stage cell therapy assets and scientific expertise
• Treehill Partners will provide senior management and operational oversight
• Development activities will leverage Treehill’s Clinical Development Optimisation model to improve capital efficiency and streamline timelines
Thermo Fisher Scientific Selected
The companies have selected Thermo Fisher Scientific as their preferred development services partner. Its established US infrastructure is expected to support critical manufacturing and development activities.
Ali Pashazadeh, CEO and Founder of Treehill Partners, emphasized the persistent challenges in clinical development, stating that Treehill’s model is designed to enhance development efficiency while increasing the probability of regulatory and commercial success. He described SQ-SHED as a program with meaningful clinical potential in an area of significant unmet medical need.
SQ-SHED now enters a focused phase of US clinical advancement. Successful development could introduce a novel regenerative treatment approach for pediatric cerebral palsy.
Reference
Kidswell Bio and Treehill Partners launch US-based Newco to fast-track global clinical development of a novel cell and gene therapy for paediatric cerebral palsy, 16 February 2026, https://www.kidswellbio.com/Portals/0/resources/pdf/en/Topics/2026/20260216_01EN_8fgSyej9x.pdf?TabModule605=0