Charles River Launches Rapid Cell Banking Programs

Charles River Laboratories International Inc. has introduced rapid cell banking programs aimed at significantly accelerating release timelines for biopharmaceutical and advanced therapy developers, the company announced.

The new programs combine rapid cell bank and release packages with advanced characterization using Next-Generation Sequencing, or NGS, creating what Charles River describes as an end-to-end solution designed to improve product quality, safety, and regulatory readiness while reducing overall development timelines.

Matthew Hewitt, Corporate Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Manufacturing at Charles River, said the rapid testing approach is intended to help clients move products through development more quickly.

“By leveraging our long-standing expertise in rapid test methods, we can expedite pre-bank and release testing timelines, enabling clients to establish and characterize cell banks quickly and move their product forward in development,” Hewitt said. “The integration of rapid cell banking with NGS technologies provides a powerful advantage for developers, helping accelerate critical milestones, de-risk development programs, and ultimately bring innovative therapies to patients faster.”

Charles River said the offering also provides regulatory support for biologic and advanced therapy developers, helping clients align with global expectations and move programs from early development toward commercialization.

The company said the platform supports its commitment to the 3Rs — Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement — through its Alternative Methods Advancement Project, which focuses on reducing reliance on animal testing while supporting efficient product development.

Rapid Testing and NGS at the Center of the Program

To accelerate cell bank establishment, Charles River is offering rapid microbiological methods for microbial detection, including Celsis ATP-Bioluminescence technology, along with rapid mycoplasma detection using real-time PCR. The company said these methods replace traditional compendial testing with automated, objective results intended to shorten pre-bank and release testing timelines.

After cell banks are established, Charles River said it can use NGS through its iDTECT platform to provide in vitro characterization services. The company said NGS offers scalability, speed, and broad viral detection capabilities for genetic analysis and pathogen detection.

Colette Côté, Executive Director and Scientific Advisor, Global Biologics Testing Services at Charles River, said cell bank characterization remains a critical foundation for biologic product development.

“Cell bank characterization is a critical foundation for the development of biologic products, and NGS is transforming how the industry approaches safety and quality testing,” Côté said. “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.”

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