Charles River Expands Oncology CDMO Collaborations With PICI And CHLA

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has announced two strategic collaborations within its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), reinforcing its commitment to advancing oncology research and accelerating patient access to breakthrough therapies. The initiatives include a new alliance with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) and support for a Phase I clinical trial at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

“PICI’s mission-focused strategic alliance closely aligns with Charles River’s goal of creating healthier lives. Our extensive work in cell and gene therapy manufacturing, as well as end-to-end discovery and development expertise, provides the institutional knowledge required to drive forward oncology programs, with the ultimate goal of delivering safe, effective treatments to patients,” added Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River. 

The collaboration with PICI will grant the institute’s network members access to Charles River’s comprehensive suite of preclinical and manufacturing services, spanning drug discovery, biologics testing, and cell and gene therapy (C&GT) development. By integrating discovery with manufacturing expertise, Charles River aims to streamline workflows, reduce bottlenecks, and accelerate the translation of oncology research into clinical applications.

“We’ve partnered closely with CHLA to develop streamlined manufacturing programs to support the development of starting materials for a Phase I Clinical Trial. Our extensive experience provides the institutional knowledge required to support hospitals like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to accelerate effective treatments to patients,” said Dolph. 

Separately, through its CDMO Centers of Excellence, Charles River will provide manufacturing support for CHLA’s Phase I trial in pediatric solid tumors, backed by a $6 million California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant. CHLA researchers are developing novel stem cell-based approaches for children and adolescents with recurrent solid tumors, and Charles River’s role in material generation is expected to facilitate progress in this critical area of unmet need.