Bristol Myers Squibb and Cellares, the Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) solely focused on clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing, unveiled a global capacity reservation and supply deal for the production of CAR T cell therapies, with a transaction valued at up to USD 380 million in upfront and milestone payments.

Under the agreement, Cellares will streamline, automate, and transfer select Bristol Myers Squibb CAR T cell therapies onto its state-of-the-art manufacturing platform, the Cell Shuttle™. Multiple Cell Shuttle and Cell Q™ systems, equipped with fully automated, high-throughput quality control, will be exclusively allocated for Bristol Myers Squibb's use and stationed in Cellares’ Smart Factories across the US, EU, and Japan.

Addressing the intricate operational and technical challenges inherent in manufacturing cell therapies, this collaboration comes at a critical juncture when the demand for such treatments is surging due to their transformative impact on various diseases. Bristol Myers Squibb stands to bolster its manufacturing capabilities significantly, aligning with its mission to cater to the escalating demand for its diverse array of cell therapies while potentially enhancing turnaround times, thus expediting access to these therapies for a broader patient population.

Lynelle B. Hoch, President of Bristol Myers Squibb's Cell Therapy Organization, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The agreement with Cellares is our latest step forward in support of our comprehensive strategy to unlock the full potential of CAR T therapy to deliver transformative treatments to as many patients as possible, as quickly as possible.”

The collaboration represents an extension of the ongoing partnership between Bristol Myers Squibb and Cellares. In August 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb contributed to Cellares’ Series C financing to inaugurate the first IDMO Smart Factory, geared towards meeting the global demand for cell therapies. Concurrently, Bristol Myers Squibb joined Cellares’ Technology Adoption Partnership (TAP) Program, aiming to assess the automated manufacturing capabilities of the Cell Shuttle.

Fabian Gerlinghaus, CEO and co-founder of Cellares, emphasized the strategic alignment of the agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb's vision, stating, “This agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb is aligned with our strategy of establishing a global network of high-throughput, automated Smart Factories to meet the growing and worldwide demand for cell therapies."

The collaboration highlights both companies' commitment to accelerating the availability of life-saving cell therapies to patients worldwide, leveraging innovative technologies and collective expertise to advance manufacturing capabilities and ensure broader access to transformative treatments.