BioCentriq, a concept-to-clinic contract development manufacturing organization housed at New Jersey Innovation Institute on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology, announced Monday the formation of strategic collaboration with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.
The strategic collaboration is designed to accelerate the adoption of automated manufacturing to bring novel cell and gene therapies to patients more quickly and cost-effectively. Terumo, based in Lakewood, Colorado, is a medical technology company specializing in a portfolio of technology, software and services for blood component collection, therapeutic apheresis and cell and gene therapy technologies.
As part of the agreement, the BioCentriq laboratories will be equipped with Terumo’s technologies, including the Quantum Cell Expansion System and the Finia Fill and Finish System. Quantum is a functionally closed, automated cell expansion system that enables process control for a variety of adherent cells, suspension cells, viral vectors and exosomes. The Finia system, made available to the market in 2020, provides automation for the final steps of cell and gene manufacturing.
Terumo chose BioCentriq as a strategic partner to support its expansion into the CGT market in North America. Through Biocentriq, Terumo will engage early-stage CGT researchers and developers within academia and pre-clinical and clinical development by conducting demonstrations and joint networking events. Terumo will also introduce BioCentriq to its customer base.
Haro Hartounian, senior vice president and general manager, BioCentriq, said the partnership will have impact.
“As a CDMO, BioCentriq continually strives to source and adopt the latest and most innovative and cost-effective technology and services,” he said. “The use of automated manufacturing processes is critical for the cell and gene therapy industry as it moves toward commercialization in wider indications with larger patient populations.
“Terumo’s international presence will help broaden BioCentriq’s potential market and provide a range of additional technology to enhance our equipment portfolio.”
BioCentriq’s research and development experts will identify opportunities where clients can improve their manufacturing processes by introducing automation enabled using Terumo equipment during their process development and optimization.
