Kincell Bio, Cellipont Merge to Form Kincellis Advanced Therapies

Editor’s Take: The merger creates a larger, more capable cell therapy CDMO at a time when drug developers are looking for manufacturing partners that can support programs from early development through commercial production.

Kincell Bio and Cellipont Bioservices have merged to form Kincellis Advanced Therapies, a U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on cell therapies and other advanced modalities.

The combined company brings together Kincell’s depth in immune-cell technologies with Cellipont’s experience across stem cells, iPSCs, MSCs, dendritic cells, exosomes and emerging mRNA-enabled approaches. This combined scientific breadth enables Kincellis to support autologous and allogeneic therapies across a wide range of cell types and modalities — from early development through commercial supply — giving customers access to deeper technical expertise and more comprehensive solutions within one organization.

Together, the two companies have released more than 150 GMP batches for clients and are supporting 10 IND filings this year alone.

Darren Head serves as CEO of Kincellis and brings a track record of building advanced therapies CDMOs over the last two decades. “Kincell and Cellipont are highly complementary in their science, facilities and the stages of development they serve. Together, we can offer customers broader expertise and a more connected path from process and analytical development through late-stage manufacturing, while maintaining the responsiveness and hands-on partnership that are essential in cell therapy,” Head remarked.

Kincellis operates approximately 140,000 square feet of development and manufacturing infrastructure across Gainesville, Florida; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and The Woodlands, Texas. The combined network includes 16 operational, qualified GMP manufacturing suites supporting programs from early development and clinical manufacturing through pivotal and commercial supply.

The three-site network provides customers with greater flexibility, capacity and continuity as programs advance, while enabling Kincellis to align programs with the technical teams and manufacturing capabilities best suited to their development stage and supply needs.

The experienced operations team, comprising leaders from both organizations and more than 200 dedicated team members, will be led by Larry Pitcher, President of Kincellis Advanced Therapies (formerly CEO of Kincell Bio).