Cellular Origins and Fresenius Kabi have successfully completed the first phase of a collaboration first announced in October 2024. The partnership was designed to help scale cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing using advanced robotics and cell processing technologies.

Signifying the partnership’s first phase, the companies said, is completion of digital and physical integration of one system from each. Namely, Fresenius Kabi’s cell processing system, Cue, has been integrated with Cellular Origins’ CGT robotic manufacturing platform, Constellation.

Cellular, Fresenius Automate CGT Manufacturing

In essence, the integration creates a novel, integrated approach to robotic-operated cell processing. The integration of the systems is designed to leverage the powers of automation end to end—significantly reducing manual intervention.

“Manufacturing costs and variability are major challenges to the widespread adoption of cell and gene therapies,” said Cellular Origins CEO Edwin Stone, PhD. “Achieving this milestone within 12 months reflects the strong technical alignment between the teams and supports our progress toward future system development.”

“This milestone demonstrates how automated precision, efficiency, and reliability can improve processes and established workflows, reduce manual labor, and help make advanced therapies more accessible to patients worldwide,” said Christian Hauer, President MedTech, Fresenius Kabi.

What’s Next for Cellular and Fresenius

Both Cellular Origins and Fresenius Kabi say they have completed studies confirming the reliability of the Cue system. These T cell studies, according to the companies, demonstrated Cue’s execution of complex, precise workflows.

Now, the collaboration between the two companies turns to a focus on scaling manufacturing for clinical and commercial purposes. Cellular Origins’ Constellation platform will also be integrated into Fresenius Kabi’s wider Cell Therapy Technologies portfolio.

Ultimately, CGT developers and manufacturers should be able to adopt Cellular Origins’ system into workflows without changing current processes.