RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Kincell Bio, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on cell therapy, has announced the closing of a $22 million investment round co-led by NewSpring Capital and Kineticos Life Sciences. The funding is aimed at accelerating Kincell Bio’s growth and expanding its capabilities to support the rapidly evolving cell and gene therapy sector.
The financing round marks NewSpring Capital’s entry as a new investor through its NewSpring Healthcare strategy, which focuses on healthcare innovations in the lower-middle market. Kineticos Life Sciences, an existing investor known for its operational focus and deep ties in pharma services and tools, also played a leading role in the round alongside other existing backers.
As part of the investment, Pete Buzy, a recognized leader in advanced biologics manufacturing, has been appointed to Kincell Bio’s Board of Directors. Buzy brings over 25 years of experience in life sciences, including previous roles as President and CEO of Paragon Bioservices and Chairman of Gene Therapy at Catalent. He is currently an Advisory Partner at NewSpring and serves on the board of Pyramid Labs.
“This strategic partnership with NewSpring and continued support from Kineticos reflects our mission to scale high-quality, flexible, and scientifically rigorous solutions for our partners in cell therapy,” said Mark R. Bamforth, CEO of Kincell Bio. “Pete Buzy’s appointment adds significant operational and strategic insight as we grow and evolve our capabilities.”
Kincell Bio plans to use the new capital to expand its cGMP manufacturing infrastructure, strengthen its process development services, and provide more tailored support to emerging cell therapy companies. The investment comes at a critical time, as the global market for cell and gene therapies is projected to exceed $23 billion by 2028.
Buzy, whose work helped build Catalent’s cell and gene therapy platform into one of the industry’s most advanced, expressed enthusiasm about joining Kincell’s board. “Kincell Bio is bringing the right focus, flexibility, and scientific rigor to a market that’s evolving rapidly,” he said. “I’m excited to support this team as they scale to meet the needs of the next generation of cell therapy innovators.”
Kapila Ratnam, Ph.D., General Partner at NewSpring, emphasized the firm’s confidence in Kincell Bio’s leadership and vision. “Cell therapy is transforming the landscape of medicine, and Kincell Bio is uniquely positioned to lead in this space. Our investment, along with Pete’s board appointment, highlights our belief in the company’s potential to shape the future of cell therapy manufacturing.”
Shailesh Maingi, Founder and Managing Partner of Kineticos Life Sciences, echoed this sentiment, noting the alignment between Kincell’s mission and NewSpring’s value-driven approach. “We’re excited to deepen our support of Kincell Bio’s work to deliver life-saving therapies and ensure patients benefit from these medical breakthroughs as swiftly and safely as possible.”
Kincell Bio’s platform is designed to provide clients with personalized, expert-driven support from early clinical stages through commercial launch, helping reduce development timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards.
