Cellares enters into agreement with biopharma Kite

Cellares' flagship IDMO (Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization) Smart Factory in Bridgewater will be capable of producing more than 40,000 cell therapy batches a year. - MATTHEW FAZELPOOR

Matthew Fazelpoor//June 27, 2024//

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Cellares announced Thursday an agreement with Kite to evaluate its automated manufacturing platform, the Cell Shuttle.

NJBIZ has reported on Cellares. Earlier this year, the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) dedicated to clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing opened a Smart Factory in Bridgewater.

Under the agreement, Kite will assess the Cell Shuttle’s viability as a future manufacturing option using data generated during this proof-of-concept evaluation.

Cellares CEO and co-founder Fabian Gerlinghaus said his organization is honored to work with an industry leader like Kite. He noted the company’s work serving patients worldwide with two commercially approved cell therapies.

“This agreement with Kite allows the unique capabilities of our Cell Shuttle platform to be potentially utilized by Kite in the future and reinforces Cellares’ position as a cell therapy manufacturer with advanced automated technology,” said Gerlinghaus.

In March, former Kite CEO Christi Shaw joined the Cellares board of directors.

Chris McDonald, senior vice president and global head of technical operations, Kite, said the company is always assessing new technologies that could further enhance its manufacturing capabilities — especially true given how central manufacturing is to the delivery of CAR T-cell therapies to physicians and patients.

“We welcome this opportunity to evaluate how Cellares’ automation production platform could potentially help them reach more patients with their next-generation therapies,” McDonald said.

Officials, business leaders and other stakeholders attend Cellares' Jan. 29 ribbon cutting of the company's new Bridgewater facility, which is expected to create 350 new jobs. — Officials, business leaders and other stakeholders attend Cellares’ Jan. 29, 2024, ribbon cutting of the company’s new Bridgewater facility, which is expected to create 350 new jobs. – MATTHEW FAZELPOOR/NJBIZ

The announcement marks continued momentum for Cellares, following a recent $380 million supply agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb and previously announced partnerships with Cabalette Bio and Lyell Immunopharma.

“We aim to fully automate all cell therapy manufacturing processes – moving us closer to delivering CAR T-cell therapies for a wide range of autoimmune diseases and cancers,” said Gerlinghaus.