WILMINGTON, Mass.– Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) today announced the launch of the Charles River Incubator Program (CIP), specializing in supporting early-stage biotechnology companies in the discovery, development and phase-appropriate manufacturing of advanced therapies.
“The Charles River Incubator Program launch, through our Global Innovation Center of Excellence, demonstrates a continued commitment to the global biotechnology industry by offering knowledge, connectivity, and priority access to the Charles River portfolio,” said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River.
Building on the success of the Company’s established global Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Accelerator Program (CAP), the CIP focuses on nurturing innovative start-up and early-stage biotechnology companies. The objective of the CIP is to form a strong foundation for commercial viability as its participants gain momentum with the goal of imparting cost-effective, consultative regulatory and quality expertise, personnel training initiatives, and enabling access to laboratory space and equipment. Developers are invited to apply to be part of the next cohort today:
- CIP – Incubates biotechnology developers in the discovery phase, 24+ months from Investigational New Drug (IND) or Clinical Trial Application (CTA) submission.
- CAP – Accelerates advanced therapy developers 18-24 months from IND or CTA submission.
Leveraging a Concept to Cure Portfolio
The CIP and CAP are reinforced by the Company’s Global Innovation Center of Excellence (CoE), strategically positioned and fully integrated at the heart of Charles River’s extensive virtual and physical network. The Global Innovation CoE amalgamates a cross-functional team of scientific, regulatory and manufacturing experts in:
- Drug Discovery
- Safety Assessment
- Research Models
- Clinical to Commercial Contract Development and Manufacturing
- Microbial Solutions
Based out of the Company’s contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) CoE located in the Alderley Park campus, the UK’s largest, single-site life science ecosystem, the Global Innovation CoE is geared to foster and accelerate life sciences innovation, with enhanced access to life sciences and biotechnology experts.
In alignment with the Company’s strategic areas of interest and commitment to driving innovation, the applicant selection process remains at the discretion of Charles River and the next cohort shortlist will be identified in conjunction with the upcoming Cell and Gene Therapy Summit, March 4, 2025, in San Francisco, CA.
