Breaking News: 908 Devices and Cellares are collaborating to integrate Raman PAT, an online monitoring instrument for bioprocesses, into Cell Shuttle—a fully integrated cell therapy manufacturing platform.

908 Devices and Cellares have partnered to integrate online monitoring of bioprocess parameters into Cellares’ fully integrated cell therapy manufacturing platform, Cell Shuttle. 908 Devices, a pioneer in handheld and benchtop devices for biochemical analysis, and Cellares, the first integrated R&D and manufacturing organization (IDMO) dedicated to clinical and commercial cell therapy production, have announced a collaborative R&D initiative to incorporate optical instruments for real-time monitoring of critical cell culture parameters into Cellares’ Cell Shuttle system—a fully integrated, scalable platform for cell therapy R&D and manufacturing. This collaboration between the two companies aims to further enhance the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of large-scale cell therapy production.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, USA, Cellares is an “Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization” (IDMO) specializing in cell therapy production at both clinical and industrial scales. Since its inception, Cellares has been focused on developing a cell therapy R&D and manufacturing platform called “Cell Shuttle,” which integrates all the technologies required for the entire cell therapy process into a single, flexible, high-throughput platform, delivering a truly real-time, end-to-end automated workflow.

The Cell Shuttle platform developed by Cellares (https://www.cellares.com/technology/#high-throughput)

908 Devices is a pioneering manufacturer of specialized instruments for analytical chemistry applications. Founded in 2012, the company’s product lineup spans from the handheld mass spectrometer MX908 to the compact, micro-sized compositional analyzer REBEL—based on microfluidic technology—and the rapid separation device ZIPCHIP. More recently, 908 Devices has introduced MAVEN and Maverick, PAT tools that support bioprocess workflows. These user-centric devices serve a wide range of industries, including life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, public safety, oil and gas, and other application markets. The latest product launched by 908 Devices—the Raman optical online analyzer MAVERICK—is the first plug-and-play device that leverages Raman spectroscopy for real-time monitoring and control of bioprocesses, requiring neither modeling nor R&D efforts. MAVERICK employs a specially developed de novo model to automatically process Raman spectra from various media types and cell lines, providing direct quantitative parameter information and enabling online process control. 908 Devices is currently adapting its MAVERICK device to integrate it into the Cell Shuttle system.

The Maverick online spectrometer developed by 908 Devices (https://908devices.com/products/maverick/)

Dr. Christopher D. Brown, Chief Product Officer and Co-founder of 908 Devices, stated: “Online analytics can provide real-time monitoring of cell culture processes, enabling immediate feedback and corrective actions. At the same time, this approach does not consume samples, reducing the risk of contamination and improving product quality. We are extremely proud to be partnering with Cellares to accelerate the development of life-saving cell therapies.”

Cellares’ Cell Shuttle supports both autologous and allogeneic cell therapy processes, as well as most other cell therapy workflows. The Cell Shuttle platform integrates all the technologies required for every unit operation and has successfully enabled the CAR-T cell therapy process, achieving true end-to-end automation. Compared to manual cell therapy production processes that rely on benchtop equipment, Cellares’ Cell Shuttle reduces the required labor and facility footprint by 90%. As a result, Cellares’ IDMO smart factory can produce 10 times more cell therapy batches per year than traditional CDMO facilities—while maintaining the same floor space and workforce.

Dr. Daniele Malleo, Vice President of R&D at Cellares, stated: “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with 908 Devices. Integrating 908’s MAVERICK Raman spectrometer into Cellares’ fully automated, closed-end-to-end cell therapy manufacturing platform will enable real-time process control of critical cellular parameters, enhancing both the efficiency and safety of cell therapy production while significantly reducing costs. This partnership underscores our commitment to making advanced cell therapies more accessible and affordable for patients who need them, and it will accelerate our progress in this field.”

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