Charles River Laboratories International Inc. has announced the launch of new rapid cell banking programs, a strategic move designed to significantly compress development timelines for biopharmaceutical and advanced therapy developers. By integrating rapid microbiological testing with advanced Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) characterization, the company aims to establish a more efficient, end-to-end solution for drug developers facing the dual pressure of rigorous safety standards and the race to market.
In the fast-paced world of biopharma, cell bank establishment and characterization are critical, time-consuming milestones. Traditionally, these processes rely on compendial testing methods that can delay the progression of a therapeutic candidate. Charles River’s new offering aims to bypass these bottlenecks by replacing traditional methods with rapid technologies. This includes the use of Celsis ATP-Bioluminescence for microbial detection and real-time PCR for rapid mycoplasma screening, providing automated, objective results in a fraction of the time.
Beyond speed, the program emphasizes enhanced safety and regulatory confidence. Once cell banks are established, the company leverages its iDTECT platform—a proprietary NGS service—to provide in vitro characterization. NGS offers superior scalability and broader viral detection capabilities compared to conventional methods, providing developers with the comprehensive data packages necessary for global regulatory submissions.
Matthew Hewitt, Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Manufacturing at Charles River, noted that the initiative is specifically engineered to de-risk development programs. “By leveraging our long-standing expertise in rapid test methods, we can expedite pre-bank and release testing timelines,” Hewitt said. “The integration of rapid cell banking with NGS technologies provides a powerful advantage for developers, helping accelerate critical milestones… and ultimately bring innovative therapies to patients faster.”
Colette Côté, Executive Director and Scientific Advisor for Global Biologics Testing Services, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that NGS is fundamentally altering the industry’s approach to safety. “By combining rapid cell banking capabilities with NGS as part of the cell bank characterization package, we help clients accelerate development timelines while generating the comprehensive data needed to support regulatory submissions and build confidence in product quality and safety,” Côté stated.
The initiative also aligns with Charles River’s broader corporate commitment to the “3Rs” of animal welfare—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Through its Alternative Methods Advancement Project, the company is actively working to reduce the industry’s reliance on animal testing by prioritizing these more efficient, modern analytical techniques.
This announcement follows a period of rapid innovation for Charles River. The company recently debuted an AI-powered, end-to-end digital pathology platform aimed at shortening nonclinical study timelines. Combined with these new rapid cell banking services, Charles River is positioning itself as a primary technology partner for developers seeking to streamline the path from early-stage research to commercialization. As regulatory expectations evolve, these automated and high-precision tools are likely to become standard requirements for companies operating in the increasingly complex landscape of biologic and cell-based therapies.
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