Galapagos and Blood Centers of America announce strategic collaboration to accelerate Galapagos' decentralized CAR-T manufacturing network in the U.S.

Core Viewpoint - Galapagos NV has entered into a strategic collaboration with Blood Centers of America (BCA) to decentralize the manufacturing of its CAR-T cell therapies, enhancing access and efficiency in the U.S. market [1][4]. Group 1: Collaboration Details - The collaboration allows Galapagos to utilize BCA's network of over 50 community blood centers across 43 states for Good Manufacturing Practice compliant manufacturing [1][7]. - BCA will facilitate technology transfer to multiple sites, enabling decentralized manufacturing close to cancer treatment centers and providing apheresis capacity when needed [2][7]. - This partnership is expected to accelerate site initiation and onboarding, ensuring consistent quality in the manufacturing process [2][4]. Group 2: Manufacturing Platform Advantages - Galapagos' decentralized CAR-T manufacturing platform aims to overcome current limitations in CAR-T production, offering faster and scalable solutions [3][5]. - The platform promises a median vein-to-vein time of seven days for the delivery of fresh, fit cells, enhancing physician control and improving patient experience [3][5]. - The manufacturing process includes an end-to-end xCellit™ workflow management system and a proprietary quality control strategy [5]. Group 3: Strategic Importance - This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Galapagos' U.S. expansion strategy, supporting pivotal studies and potential future commercial manufacturing of CAR-T therapies [4][7]. - The partnership complements existing collaborations with Landmark Bio and Thermo Fisher Scientific, enhancing Galapagos' operational capabilities [4][7]. - BCA's extensive experience in regulatory compliant biologic processing is expected to facilitate seamless technology transfer across multiple sites [4][9].