Charles River Launches First Cohort Of Advanced Therapy Incubator Program To Help Biotech Ideas Reach Patients Faster

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) has officially unveiled the inaugural cohort of its Charles River Incubator Program (CIP), designed to empower early-stage biotechnology companies developing cutting-edge therapies and technologies. The program, launched in December 2024, connects startups with deep scientific mentorship, regulatory support, and access to Charles River’s world-class discovery-to-manufacturing network.

The first CIP cohort features six trailblazing companies: 64x Bio, Adjuva Bio, Purilogics by Donaldson, Gordian Bio, NanoPalm, and NVI Therapeutics. These companies are pioneering advancements across cell and gene therapy, AI-enabled drug delivery, non-viral gene insertion, and next-gen biologics manufacturing.

Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Charles River, stated, “We were incredibly impressed with the caliber of applicants for the CIP and are proud of the group chosen to participate in this first round. The goal is to form a strong foundation for commercial viability as our participants work to develop life-saving therapeutics.” 

Kristen Eisenhauer, Charles River’s Chief Commercial Officer, also added, “Incubator programs like CIP are vital right now. They provide the early-stage support needed to help companies navigate a tough investment climate and bring promising therapies to life.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to global innovation, Charles River’s CIP also supports regional ecosystem building. Notably, its partnership with Lafana Holding enabled the inclusion of NanoPalm, contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for biotech development.