Galapagos And Blood Centers Of America Collaborate To Expand Galapagos' Decentralized CAR-T Manufacturing Network In The U.S.
- BCA's national network of blood centers will provide decentralized manufacturing services for Galapagos' CAR-T product candidates, close to cancer treatment centers
- Collaboration enables rapid deployment of Galapagos' decentralized CAR-T platform across the U.S., improving patient access to potentially life-saving CAR-T treatments
- Important milestone for Galapagos' U.S. expansion strategy, supporting upcoming pivotal trials and potential future commercial manufacturing of CAR-T therapies
- Complements existing collaborations with Galapagos' other manufacturing partners
Mechelen, Belgium; 15 May 2024, 22:01 CET; Galapagos NV ((Euronext &, NASDAQ:GLPG) and Blood Centers of America (BCA) today announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration for the decentralized manufacturing of Galapagos' CAR-T cell therapies through BCA's network in the U.S.
Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, BCA will provide access to its extensive network of over 50 community blood centers in 43 states for Good Manufacturing Practice compliant manufacturing for Galapagos' CAR-T hemato-oncology clinical program. This agreement complements existing collaborations between Galapagos and Landmark Bio and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Galapagos will leverage BCA's network to initiate technology transfer to multiple sites in parallel for the decentralized manufacturing of its CAR-T product candidates, close to cancer treatment centers, while also accessing apheresis capacity at BCA sites when required. In addition, BCA will play a crucial coordinating role by supporting site initiation and onboarding to accelerate Galapagos' efforts and ensure consistent quality.
Galapagos' innovative, decentralized manufacturing platform could address many of the limitations that currently available CAR-T production is facing. It has the potential to offer greater speed and scalability, with the delivery of fresh, fit cells with a vein-to-vein time of seven days and the possibility for greater physician control and improved patient experience.