Bracco Imaging and Limula recently announced the launch of a research and development (R&D) project in collaboration with Prof. Nicola Vannini, an expert in T-cell metabolism at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Cell and Gene Therapies (CGT), also called Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), represent a revolution in medicine. CAR-T and other cell therapies are already transforming the lives of cancer patients worldwide, with a global market expected to exceed $100 billion by 2034. The complex manufacturing of these treatments remains a bottleneck to their widespread adoption in the clinic. Cell selection and activation are critical steps in these processes, often followed by genetic manipulations.

The goal of this public-private partnership, funded through an innovation project grant from the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse, is to combine two innovations, lipid-based microbubbles and an automated cell processing technology, to offer an alternative to conventional magnetic beads for affinity-based cell selection and activation. In this context, microbubbles are used to modify the density of target cells through specific binding, enabling their selection by natural buoyancy.

Dr. Thierry Bettinger, Director of the Bracco Research Centre Geneva said: “Integrating Bracco’s microbubble technology—clinically used for over two decades in imaging—with Limula’s instrumentation offers a compelling approach to improved cell manufacturing, aiming to accelerate access to more affordable therapies for a broader patient population.”

Dr. Luc Henry, CEO at Limula adds: “This partnership reflects the need for a multidisciplinary approach to innovation in Cell and Gene Therapy. Our collaboration with Bracco and Prof. Vannini will provide us with the complementary expertise needed to deliver value to our biopharma and hospital customers.”

The concept of using buoyancy to capture cells and other components of interest is already being used in life science applications, including in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Some of the anticipated advantages of the unique lipid formulation provided by Bracco combined with the gentle cell processing technology developed by Limula are

• Traceless reagents can be easily removed from the cell product during the manufacturing process, significantly simplifying quality control.
• Gentle manipulations of the cells lead to better yields, purity and overall product quality and potentially improved clinical outcome for patients.

Prof. Nicola Vannini from the University of Fribourg is contributing his deep expertise in T-cell physiology and metabolism. He adds: “We see tremendous potential in innovative approaches to some of the key cell manipulation steps require to deliver improved patient outcome. My team is looking forward to evaluating the impact of these new technologies on the fitness of the cell products.”

Bracco Imaging is a global leader in diagnostic imaging, dedicated to improving people’s lives by shaping the future of prevention and precision medicine. With a strong passion for innovation, the company develops and provides a broad portfolio of pharmaceutical products for diagnostic imaging: contrast agents for X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), as well microbubbles for Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS), and Molecular Imaging through radioactive tracers and novel PET imaging agents, alongside specialized medical devices and related services. The company is committed to advancing radiology by sharing knowledge to cultivate future thought leaders, linking today’s practice with tomorrow’s progress. Since 1927, Bracco Imaging has grown to more than 3,800 employees and now supports patients and radiology professionals in over 100 countries. Discover Bracco Imaging at https://www.bracco.com/

Limula SA is a life science platform technology company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, dedicated to transforming the manufacturing of Cell & Gene Therapies. Its mission is to accelerate the development and commercialization of new advanced therapies through an automated, on-demand, and scalable manufacturing solution. The proprietary platform integrates all functionalities into a single device, empowering therapeutics developers to bring life-saving treatments to patients more efficiently. Learn more about the solutions provided by Limula at https://limula.ch/