Charles River Integrates Akadeum’s GMP-Grade T Cell Isolation Kit Into Its Cell Therapy Flex Program

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. and Akadeum Life Sciences have partnered to integrate Akadeum’s GMP-grade Human T Cell Leukopak Isolation Kit into Charles River’s Cell Therapy Flex Program. This move enhances the platform’s ability to support cell therapy development with greater efficiency and viability.

“Akadeum’s Microbubble technology provides an innovative solution for cell separation, utilizing gravity to isolate T cells. This method is scalable and GMP, ensuring efficiency and quicker delivery to patients,” said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River.

The Cell Therapy Flex Platform is designed as an off-the-shelf solution for autologous CAR-T and TCR-T therapies, offering validated protocols across cell selection, expansion, electroporation, viral vector methods, concentration, and fill-finish. By incorporating Akadeum’s patented Microbubble technology, which uses buoyancy to separate unwanted cells, the program gains an advanced, easy-to-use tool that requires no additional capital investment or extra lab space.

“Cell therapy is transforming medicine, but the economics of manufacturing remain a major barrier. Our work with Charles River and the Flex platform allows us to tackle these challenges head-on, delivering healthier cells, faster processing times, and scalable separations that reduce complexity,” said Brandon McNaughton, CEO of Akadeum.

This integration builds on recent enhancements to the platform, including the addition of Akron Bio’s Closed System Solutions™ cytokines earlier this year. With these upgrades, Charles River continues to expand the capabilities of its Cell Therapy Flex Program, streamlining development timelines, reducing risk, and improving robustness for next-generation cell therapy products.