Cellares announced Thursday the commissioning of the first cGMP Cell Shuttle at its Smart Factory in Bridgewater.

As NJBIZ has reported, Cellares is the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO). Its Smart Factory aims to innovate clinical and commercial-scale therapy manufacturing through integrated, advanced end-to-end, walk-away automation technologies, such as the Cell Shuttle and the Cell Q.

Those two components work in concert toward the company’s ambitious goals: the Cell Shuttle automates cell therapy manufacturing while the Cell Q automates quality control, both in-process QC as well as release testing.

Cellares says the completion of the Cell Shuttle marks an important milestone on the way to a fully fitted facility.

The Somerset County Smart Factory has a capacity for about 38 Cell Shuttles, which it will build based on customer demand. When fully fitted, the facility will be capable of producing up to 40,000 standard CAR-T cell therapy doses per year or up to 100,000 doses of novel, two-day process CAR-T cell therapies.

“Bringing our first cGMP Cell Shuttle online in New Jersey is a major step for Cellares and our partners,” said Cellares CEO Fabian Gerlinghaus. “This facility showcases our innovative approach and aligns with our mission to provide life-saving cell therapies to patients in need, faster and more efficiently than ever.”

Earlier this week, Cellares also announced some key hires. Justin McAnear joins as chief financial officer and Jonathan Butler as general counsel and corporate secretary. Each come on board with more than two decades of experience in their respective areas of expertise.

Growth spurt

“Justin and Jonathan bring the experience and leadership that align with Cellares’ vision for the future,” said Gerlinghaus. “Justin’s track record in scaling innovative companies with a clear mission is a strong match for where we’re headed. Jonathan’s legal expertise will be essential as we navigate our growth.

“Joining Cellares is an exciting new chapter where I can once again help drive meaningful impact,” said McAnear, who has held senior finance roles at Johnson & Johnson, Apple and Tesla. Most recently, he served as CFO of 10x Genomics, where he played a pivotal role in taking the company public. “Having been part of a similar technological journey before, I’m eager to contribute to Cellares’ mission of accelerating access to life-saving cell therapies and making a real difference in patients’ lives.”

“My career has focused on supporting innovative companies through critical phases of growth, and Cellares offers an opportunity to do that in a field that is truly impactful,” said Butler. Previously deputy general counsel at Tesla, he most recently served as general counsel and secretary at Lucid Motors. There, Butler guided the company through key milestones, expansion and a successful public listing. “The work being done here has the potential to make a tangible difference in patients’ lives, and I’m eager to contribute to the company’s continued success in accelerating access to these vital therapies.”

“Their combined strengths will play a key role in our continued progress and global expansion,” Gerlinghaus added.

NJBIZ recently caught up with Gerlinghaus to discuss the company’s latest milestones, major announcements, next steps and more. Stay tuned for a recap of that interview on NJBIZ.

More Cellares milestones:

• June: Cellares enters into agreement with biopharma Kite
• April: Cellares, BMS announce $380M cell therapy manufacturing agreement
• April: Cellares unveils first-of-its-kind cell therapy manufacturing tool
• February: New Cellares facility a win for NJ’s innovation, life sciences sectors