Charles River Laboratories International has announced two strategic collaborations across its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) aimed at advancing novel oncology research and development. The partnerships include forming an alliance with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and supporting manufacturing processes for Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Phase I clinical trials.
Partnership with Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy
Charles River has formed a strategic alliance with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), a research institute that brings together researchers, nonprofits, and industry partners to expedite the delivery of treatments to patients. As part of this strategic alliance, PICI network members and their companies will have access to Charles River's portfolio of preclinical drug discovery and development services, ranging from early discovery to manufacturing.
As an established cell and gene therapy (C>) CDMO and preclinical research partner, Charles River's integrated approach combines research and development with biologics testing and manufacturing to maximize knowledge transfer, reduce bottlenecks, and accelerate drug development.
"PICI's mission-focused strategic alliance closely aligns with Charles River's goal of creating healthier lives," said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President, Global Manufacturing, Charles River. "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."
Supporting Pediatric Cancer Research at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Through a recent agreement, Charles River's extensive cell and gene therapy capabilities and dedicated CDMO Centers of Excellence will generate materials to support the advancement of a Phase I clinical trial at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). CHLA is a leading research institution studying solid tumors in children.
In 2024, CHLA received a multi-year $6 million award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to develop innovative stem cell approaches to treat children and adolescents with recurrent solid tumors. Charles River will support this initiative by developing streamlined manufacturing programs for starting materials needed for the Phase I clinical trial.
"We've partnered closely with CHLA to develop streamlined manufacturing programs to support the development of starting materials for a Phase I Clinical Trial," said Dolph. "Our extensive experience provides the institutional knowledge required to support hospitals like Children's Hospital Los Angeles to accelerate effective treatments to patients."
Expanding Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Capabilities
In recent years, Charles River has significantly broadened its cell and gene therapy portfolio through several acquisitions, integrations, and expansions to simplify complex supply chains and meet growing demand for plasmid DNA, viral vector, and cell therapy services. Combined with the company's legacy testing capabilities, Charles River offers an industry-leading "concept-to-cure" advanced therapies solution.
The company acknowledges that scaling up gene and gene-modified cell therapies for regulatory filing presents significant challenges, from transitioning through discovery and clinical phases to achieving GMP-compliant commercialization. These new collaborations represent Charles River's commitment to addressing these challenges and accelerating the development of oncology treatments across different patient populations.
