Lowering DMSO, Lowering Risk: Why Safety in Cryopreservation Should Never Be Compromised

A recent study published in Cytotherapy by Trummer et al. (2020) provides strong evidence that lowering the concentration of DMSO from 10% to 5% during hematopoietic cell cryopreservation can significantly reduce infusion-related adverse events (irAEs)—without impairing engraftment or efficacy.

In the study, patients receiving hematopoietic cells cryopreserved with 5% DMSO experienced far fewer infusion-related reactions (only 10%) compared to those with 10% DMSO (80%). Importantly, the time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was the same across both groups, showing that lowering DMSO did not compromise clinical outcomes. On the contrary, recovery and viability of cells were even improved at the lower DMSO level.

Why This Matters

For decades, DMSO has been a cornerstone of cryopreservation. Yet its toxicity is well-documented — patients can experience nausea, vomiting, cardiovascular instability, or even more severe reactions. The Trummer study, like many other publications, reinforces an important point: these risks are not inevitable.

It is essential to consider safety from the very beginning of product development — choosing cryoprotectants and protocols that minimize toxicity while maintaining efficacy. Making these careful choices early on makes it far easier to scale successful protocols into robust, regulatory-compliant manufacturing processes later.

Safe, sustainable solutions should be built into workflows from the start. That way, when a therapy or research program shows promise, it can progress smoothly — without the need for costly or complex redesigns to address safety concerns.

Pentahibe’s Approach: Safety Without Compromise

At Pentahibe, this finding speaks directly to our mission. We often say: “Why run a risk when you don’t have to?”
It’s more than just a message — it reflects a broader shift across the cell and gene therapy field. There is a clear growing global movement toward reducing or eliminating DMSO, as the evidence of its toxicity becomes increasingly difficult to overlook.

We believe that cryopreservation should not force a trade-off between safety and efficacy. With modern solutions, it is possible to safeguard both patients and cell products.

Pentahibe is designed with this principle at its core:

• Reduced or eliminated DMSO content → minimizing infusion-related AEs.

• Maintained cell viability and engraftment → ensuring treatment success.

• Reliable, consistent results → with no compromises required.

The Future of Cryopreservation is Clear

The message is simple: safe alternatives exist today. We no longer need to tolerate high levels of DMSO that put patients at unnecessary risk. As the Trummer study demonstrates, lowering DMSO reduces adverse events while preserving engraftment.

At Pentahibe, we take this further. We are committed to helping the field move toward a future where cryopreservation is both safe and efficient—no compromise required.

Reference: Data from Trummer T et al. Cryopreservation of hematopoietic cells using a pre-constituted, protein-free cryopreservative solution with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, Cytotherapy, 2020 Nov; Vol 22(11): 613-616. Copyright Elsevier. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.05.006