Xcell Biosciences Inc. (Xcellbio) recently expanded its collaboration with Labcorp, a prominent laboratory services provider, by incorporating new elements into their research agreement. In this enhanced partnership, Labcorp will participate in the beta program for Xcellbio's AVATAR™ instruments' clinical manufacturing line and secure an observer seat on Xcellbio's board of directors. Labcorp has increased its strategic investment in Xcellbio as part of this collaboration, though specific financial details were not disclosed. Both companies will jointly present findings from their ongoing cell and gene therapy collaboration at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

Xcellbio's flagship product, the AVATAR incubator system, is tailored for cell therapy research and development. Their latest offering, the AVATAR Foundry system, is a cGMP cell therapy manufacturing platform aimed at enhancing cell therapy potency. This innovation holds particular significance for cell therapies targeting solid tumors, which often face challenges in achieving sustained efficacy at tumor sites due to the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). The AVATAR and AVATAR Foundry systems provide versatile solutions for both small-scale research and process development, as well as scalable manufacturing, with the goal of optimizing therapeutic cell potency and persistence within the TME.

Maryland Franklin, Ph.D., Vice President and Enterprise Head of Cell and Gene Therapy at Labcorp, expressed admiration for Xcellbio's commitment to advancing cell and gene therapy development. Dr. Franklin, now an observer on Xcellbio's board of directors, highlighted the integration of AVATAR technology into Labcorp's extensive cell and gene therapy development program, aiming to deliver impactful results to Labcorp's global clientele and foster precision healthcare advancements for diverse patient populations.

As part of the expanded collaboration, Labcorp's preclinical oncology site in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will serve as a beta site for the AVATAR Foundry system. Further details about the beta access program can be found on Xcellbio's website.

Brian Feth, Co-founder and CEO at Xcellbio, expressed pride in the strengthened partnership with Labcorp, emphasizing their joint mission of developing safer and more efficacious treatments for various diseases. This collaboration underscores their shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of cell and gene therapies, ultimately benefiting a broader spectrum of patients.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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