Kincell Bio, a scientifically focused cell therapy development and manufacturing company, has announced the completion of a $22 million funding round. The investment was led by new investor NewSpring Capital through its dedicated healthcare strategy, NewSpring Healthcare, alongside existing investor Kineticos Life Sciences and other current backers.
The funding represents a significant milestone in Kincell Bio's mission to transform the delivery of advanced cell therapies to patients worldwide. As part of this strategic partnership, Pete Buzy, former President and CEO of Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy, has been appointed to Kincell Bio's Board of Directors.
"We are excited to partner with the experienced team at NewSpring and to have them join our existing investors to support Kincell Bio, as we continue to scale our operations and deliver high-quality, flexible, and scalable solutions to our partners in the cell therapy space," said Mark R. Bamforth, CEO of Kincell Bio. "Adding Pete Buzy to our board brings unparalleled insight into the complexities and opportunities within the advanced therapies sector and we are excited to partner with him and the NewSpring team."
Strategic Expansion of Manufacturing Capabilities
The new investment will accelerate Kincell Bio's expansion of its cGMP capabilities, enhance its process development services, and support the development of innovative solutions tailored to emerging cell therapy companies. With manufacturing facilities located in Research Triangle Park, NC and Gainesville, FL, the company is strategically positioned to serve the growing cell therapy sector.
Industry projections indicate that the cell and gene therapy market will surpass $23 billion globally by 2028, highlighting the significant opportunity for specialized contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) like Kincell Bio.
The company's platform offers clients a personalized, responsive, and expert-driven approach to process development and manufacturing from early clinical to pivotal supply and commercial launch, ensuring rapid timelines without compromising on quality.
Industry Veteran Joins Board
Pete Buzy brings over two decades of leadership in advanced biologics to Kincell Bio's board. He played a key role in building Catalent's cell and gene therapy platform into one of the industry's most advanced development and manufacturing organizations. Prior to that, he led Paragon Bioservices, a contract development and manufacturing company focused on gene therapies that was part of NewSpring Healthcare's portfolio.
"Kincell Bio is bringing the right focus, flexibility, and scientific rigor to a market that's evolving rapidly," said Buzy. "I'm looking forward to supporting this team as they expand their capabilities for the next generation of cell therapy innovators. My history with NewSpring goes back more than a decade, including our work together at Paragon Bioservices, and I've seen firsthand how the right partnership can accelerate growth."
Investor Perspectives
Kapila Ratnam, Ph.D., NewSpring General Partner with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, emphasized the transformative potential of cell therapies: "Cell therapy is revolutionizing medicine, and we see Kincell Bio as a uniquely positioned CDMO with a clear vision and a leadership team capable of executing. Our investment and Pete's Board appointment reflect our confidence in the company's potential to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cell therapy manufacturing, and further highlights NewSpring's approach of pairing capital with strategic and operating expertise."
Shailesh Maingi, Founder and Managing Partner at Kineticos Life Sciences, added: "We are thrilled to welcome NewSpring as a trusted partner. Their shared commitment to mission-driven investing perfectly aligns with our vision of supporting innovative cell therapy companies. We look forward to working alongside Mark Bamforth and the entire Kincell Bio team to accelerate the development and delivery of life-saving therapies, ensuring patients benefit from these breakthroughs as quickly and safely as possible."
Specialized Focus on Cell Therapies
Kincell Bio focuses on supporting innovative companies developing immune cell therapies, including autologous and allogeneic CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M programs. The company is also developing expertise in stem cell products and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
The CDMO's mission is to streamline Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) development, apply expertise in analytical and process development, and provide GMP manufacturing, testing, and release services from early clinical to pivotal studies and product launch.
This investment and strategic partnership position Kincell Bio to play a significant role in addressing the manufacturing challenges that have historically limited the broader adoption of cell therapies, potentially accelerating patient access to these innovative treatment modalities.
