Cell therapy weekly: new integrated platform for autologous cell therapy manufacturing
This week: Sartorius (Göttingen, Germany) launched an integrated system for the production and quality control of autologous cell therapies, LabGenius (London, UK) announced it will present preclinical data for LGTX-101 at AACR2026, GenSight Biologics (Paris, France) closed its nearly €1.7 million fundraising round, and HOHCells (MD, USA) launched its patented device to control ice formation during cryopreservation.
The news highlights:
New integrated platform for autologous cell therapy manufacturing
Sartorius has announced the launch of the Eveo Cell Therapy Platform, an integrated system for the production and quality control of autologous cell therapies, such as CAR-T.
“Cell therapies are redefining medical possibilities. Yet, they remain accessible to only a small share of patients because manufacturing is complex, capacity-constrained and therefore expensive. With our integrated platform, we are tackling these structural bottlenecks head-on,” said René Fáber, member of the Executive Board at Sartorius. “By combining raw materials, production equipment, software and QC assays into a scalable system, we enable our customers to expand output, significantly reduce cost per dose and shorten vein-to-vein time for patients.”
The Evo platform integrates multiple steps in the cell therapy manufacturing workflow, including cell selection, activation, genetic modification, expansion, wash and concentration, and final formulation into a single closed system. A successful pilot with ElevateBio demonstrated that the system can process eight patient batches simultaneously in the same cleanroom space typically used for two, increasing production capacity nearly fourfold while reducing costs by approximately 90%.
T-cell engager data to debut at AACR 2026
LabGenius has announced that it will present preclinical data for LGTX-101, the company’s selectivity-enhanced Nectin-4 x CD3 T-cell engager, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 (17-22 April 2026; San Diego Convention Center, CA, USA). The poster is titled, “A Novel machine-learning derived Nectin-4 x CD3 bispecific T-cell engager, LGTX-101, demonstrates high degrees of tumour selectivity and potently induces tumour regression in vivo,” and will include data demonstrating:
- A preliminary pharmacokinetic profile that supports the potential for a Q2W–Q4W clinical dosing regimen
- Robust T-cell activation in primary bladder cancer co-culture models at concentrations below 5 pM
- No evidence of T-cell activation when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are cultured with human primary keratinocytes, which are known to endogenously express Nectin-4
- Robust and reproducible regression of established tumours in vivo in a humanised BT-474 xenograft mouse model with >90% tumour growth inhibition observed at dose levels as low as 0.1 mg/kg
Fundraising advances gene therapy development
GenSight Biologics, a clinical-stage biopharma company developing gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, has completed a fundraising effort totaling €1,694,715.53.
As part of this fundraising, the company issued 14,153,928 ordinary shares, which began trading on Euronext Paris on March 12, 2026. Additionally, the company issued 4,270,464 pre-funded warrants, which allow holders to subscribe to the same number of additional ordinary shares, and 18,424,392 investor warrants, which grant the right to subscribe to 9,212,196 additional ordinary shares.
Novel technology improves consistency in cryopreservation
HOHCells has launched FreezOpt™, a patented cryovial insert designed to improve cryopreservation by controlling ice formation during freezing. The device features a proprietary composite material with silicon dioxide particles in a biocompatible polymer matrix, providing a simple, cost-effective solution to protect valuable samples.
“Cryopreservation has long been constrained by the fact that scientists cannot reliably control when ice begins to form,” said Xiaoming (Shawn) He, Founder of HOHCells and President-Elect of the Society for Cryobiology. “Our research shows that introducing a controlled nucleation event can significantly improve freezing consistency. FreezOpt translates that scientific insight into a simple cryovial insert that seamlessly integrates into existing laboratory workflows.”
Developed with support from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, FreezOpt is manufactured at the University of Maryland’s Mtech Ventures and is available as a research-use-only product. Its technology is backed by patents and academic research on ice nucleation’s impact on cell survival.