Labcorp ,Xcell Biosciences deepen tie-up, adding new elements to collaboration

Xcell Biosciences announced it has added new elements to its research collaboration agreement with Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services. Through the expanded collaboration, Labcorp will participate in the beta program for Xcellbio’s clinical manufacturing line of AVATAR instruments and has been given an observer seat on the company’s board of directors. In exchange, Labcorp has increased its strategic investment in Xcellbio. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. The companies will be jointly presenting results from their existing cell and gene therapy collaboration at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research . Xcellbio has developed the AVATAR incubator system for cell therapy research and development. Its latest platform, the AVATAR Foundry system, is a cGMP cell therapy manufacturing platform that delivers novel capabilities for improving the potency of cell therapies. These capabilities are especially important for cell therapies targeting solid tumors, which are frequently met with challenges in overcoming the harsh immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to achieve durable potency at the target tumor site. The AVATAR and AVATAR Foundry systems offer small-scale research and process development as well as scale-up manufacturing platforms for metabolically reprogramming therapeutic cells to improve their potency and persistence in the TME. “We have worked closely with the Xcellbio team for years and have been continually impressed by their dedication to improving the development and manufacture of cell and gene therapies,” said Maryland Franklin, Ph.D., vice president and enterprise head of cell and gene therapy at Labcorp, who has now joined Xcellbio’s board of directors as an observer. “Incorporating AVATAR technology into Labcorp’s robust cell and gene therapy development program will allow us to deliver decision-enabling results to our clients around the world and, ultimately, will help us drive precision healthcare for a broad range of patients.”