Thermo Fisher Scientific Opens First US Cell and Gene Therapy Collaboration Center

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the grand opening of its Advanced Therapies Collaboration Center (ATxCC) in Carlsbad, California, the company’s first center in the United States (1). The company held a ribbon cutting for the new facility on Wednesday, April 16. The new center is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of cell therapies by supporting biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and translational customers developing cell-based immunotherapies.

Thermo Fisher leaders help cut the ribbon Wednesday on the company’s new 6,000-square-foot Advanced Therapies Collaboration Center in Carlsbad, Calif. | Image Credit: © Thermo Fisher Scientific - https://newsroom.thermofisher.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-Opens-Advanced-Therapies-Collaboration-Center-in-Greater-San-Diego-to-Help-Accelerate-Cell-Therapy-Development/default.aspx

The company has already established similar collaboration centers in Singapore and Korea. This is the company’s first collaboration center in the United States, and it plans to open another center in Philadelphia later this year. Both centers will work to offer clinical and commercial cGMP process development to the company’s partners.

Cell therapy is the transfer of specific cell types into a person to treat or prevent a disease (2). Many disorders can be treated using cellular therapies, including blood cancer and plasma cell disorders. The global cell therapy raw materials market grew to $6.75 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach around $48.54 billion by 2034 (3). There are currently over 40 cell therapies approved by the FDA for treatment of a variety of diseases including multiple myloma and cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (4–6). Some of these therapies include Carvykti and Skysona (5–6).

These therapies come with several benefits, but identifying and isolating appropriate cell types for cell therapy can be challenging (7). Live cells are complex, and beyond that, the critical quality attributes for most cell therapies can be poorly defined or vary from product to product (8). As such, cell therapy products typically require an increasingly broad sets of analytical tools for development.

Cell therapy developers can use the new Thermo Fisher Scientific facility to receive the resources and support needed to transition to current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) manufacturing. These regulations, enforced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities (9). According to the FDA, adhering to CGMP regulations makes medication manufacturers adequately control manufacturing operations, thus ensuring the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products.

At the center, developers will have access to Thermo Fisher laboratory equipment and analytical solutions, even before the technologies become available to broader markets. Specialized scientists and engineers can also facilitate support in making optimized manufacturing processes and protocols using Thermo Fisher products. Further, as therapeutic programs evolve, dedicated teams can assist developers in growing and advancing their cell therapy programs by addressing new challenges and enabling support specific to their platforms.

References

(1) Thermo Fisher Scientific Opens Advanced Therapies Collaboration Center in Greater San Diego to Help Accelerate Cell Therapy Development. Thermo Fisher Scientific 2025. https://newsroom.thermofisher.com/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-Opens-Advanced-Therapies-Collaboration-Center-in-Greater-San-Diego-to-Help-Accelerate-Cell-Therapy-Development/default.aspx (accessed 2025-4-17)

(2) Cell Therapy Basics. American Society of Gene + Cell Therapy 2023. https://patienteducation.asgct.org/gene-therapy-101/cell-therapy-basics (accessed 2025-4-17)

(3) Chacko, K.; Shivarkar, A. Cell Therapy Raw Materials Market Size, Trends (2024–2034). Towards Health Care 2025. https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/cell-therapy-raw-materials-market-sizing (accessed 2025-4-17)

(4) Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products. FDA 2025. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/approved-cellular-and-gene-therapy-products (accessed 2025-4-17)

(5) Carvykti. FDA 2025. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/carvykti (accessed 2025-4-17)

(6) Skysona. FDA 2025. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/skysona (accessed 2025-4-17)

(7) Salib, V. What Factors Limit the Adoption and Development of Cell Therapy? TechTarget 2023. https://www.techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences/feature/What-Factors-Limit-the-Adoption-and-Development-of-Cell-Therapy (accessed 2025-4-17)

(8) Wiwi, C. Analytical Considerations for Cellular Therapy Manufacturing. Cell Gene Therapy Insights 2016, 2 (6), 651–661. DOI: https://www.insights.bio/immuno-oncology-insights/journal/article/448/analytical-considerations-for-cellular-therapy-manufacturing (accessed 2025-4-17)

(9) Facts About the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP). FDA 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/facts-about-current-good-manufacturing-practice-cgmp (accessed 2025-4-17)