WILMINGTON, Mass.– Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) and Akadeum Life Sciences, a leader in advanced cell separation technologies, today announced the integration of Akadeum’s GMP-grade Human T Cell Leukopak Isolation Kit into Charles River’s Cell Therapy Flex Program. The collaboration is designed to enhance cell separation, increase cell viability, and accelerate delivery of next-generation cell therapies.
Charles River’s Cell Therapy Flex Platform provides off-the-shelf solutions for process development, with validated, ready-to-use protocols for autologous CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapies. The platform offers automated systems with closed protocols spanning cell selection, expansion, electroporation, viral vector methods, washing, concentration, and fill-finish operations. By incorporating Akadeum’s Human T Cell Leukopak Isolation Kit, Charles River adds a scalable, GMP-compliant solution for more efficient T cell isolation.
“Akadeum’s Microbubble technology provides an innovative solution for cell separation, utilizing gravity to isolate T cells,” said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River. “This method is scalable, GMP, and supports quicker delivery to patients while maintaining high cell viability.”
Akadeum’s patented Microbubble technology uses buoyancy to separate unwanted cells, floating them to the surface and leaving behind healthy T cells. The kit can be used without new capital equipment or added lab space, and procedures can be performed directly in the apheresis bag provided within the kit, making it both efficient and practical.
“Cell therapy is transforming medicine, but the economics of manufacturing remain a major barrier,” said Brandon McNaughton, CEO of Akadeum. “Our work with Charles River and the Flex platform allows us to tackle these challenges directly, delivering healthier cells, faster processing times, and scalable separations that reduce complexity.”
The Charles River Cell Therapy Flex Platform has continued to evolve with strategic integrations that strengthen process robustness and streamline operations. Earlier this year, the company incorporated Akron Bio’s Closed System Solutions™ line of liquid cytokines, produced under current good manufacturing practices, into the platform. With the addition of Akadeum’s Microbubble-based isolation kit, Charles River expands its capabilities to improve cell viability and enhance the development of future cell therapy products.
