Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies and Charles River Laboratories have announced the successful integration of Terumo BCT’s Finia automated fill-finish system into a complex cell and gene therapy (CGT) workflow. The collaboration highlights the platform’s adaptability for handling varying product volumes and maintaining critical cell quality parameters.
 
Fill-finish is a particularly challenging step in CGT manufacturing due to the products’ personalized nature and short shelf life. Terumo BCT’s Finia system addresses these complexities by automating the cooling, aliquoting, and packaging processes, reducing the risk of human error and improving overall efficiency.
 
Data published in Cytotherapy detail how Charles River successfully integrated Finia into its T cell workflow. The system demonstrated the ability to process large volumes of product while preserving cell viability and functionality. Additionally, Finia’s precise temperature control helped to minimize exposure to cryoprotectants, a critical factor in maintaining cell health.
 
“We commend the work by both teams in demonstrating the broad applicability of Finia for both autologous and allogeneic CGT manufacturing,” said Stuart Gibb, Ph.D., Head of Scientific Strategy for Cell and Gene Therapies, Terumo BCT. “Charles River is known as a leader in the field for contract CGT services, and we’re thrilled to see them demonstrate their expertise using the Finia platform.”
 
“We are excited by the prospect Finia’s automation offers to make CGTs more accessible by lowering costs while accelerating development and manufacturing,” said Alex Sargent, Ph.D., Director of Process Development at Charles River. “Through this collaboration, we’ve shown that an expert team can seamlessly integrate technological advances like Finia into existing workflows, leveraging its flexibility to improve manufacturing without impacting final product quality.”