Xcell Biosciences Partners with Planet Innovation and Royal Perth Hospital to Advance Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Xcell Biosciences Australia Pty Ltd (Xcellbio), a subsidiary of the San Francisco-based biotechnology company specializing in instrumentation for cell and gene therapy applications, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Royal Perth Hospital to leverage its groundbreaking AVATAR™ Foundry platform in a clinical trial aimed at expediting the production of potent cancer-targeting cell therapies.
Revolutionizing Cell Therapy with the AVATAR Foundry Platform
Cell therapy has emerged as one of the most promising approaches in modern oncology, offering new hope for patients with various types of cancers. Since the first successful bone marrow transplant in the 1950s, the concept of using human immune cells to target and eliminate cancer cells has driven major advancements in the field. Over the past several decades, researchers and clinicians have worked relentlessly to refine cell-based treatments, culminating in the approval of immune cell therapies derived from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for commercial use in 2024.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. TIL-based therapies are often complex, requiring labor-intensive and time-consuming workflows. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these therapies can be diminished by the harsh conditions of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME), which can impair immune cells’ ability to persist and function effectively. The AVATAR Foundry platform was designed to directly address these limitations by enhancing the metabolic priming of immune cells during the manufacturing process, ensuring higher cancer-killing potency and prolonged activity within solid tumors.
Solid tumors account for approximately 90% of all cancer cases worldwide, making them a significant focus in the development of next-generation immunotherapies. However, traditional cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, have been largely ineffective against solid tumors due to the immunosuppressive nature of the TME. Xcellbio’s AVATAR Foundry technology acts as a “training ground” for immune cells, equipping them with the metabolic resilience required to thrive in hostile tumor environments. This innovation has the potential to significantly enhance the efficacy of TIL therapies, providing new treatment options for cancer patients.
Planet Innovation: A Key Partner in Biotech Development
A pivotal player in this initiative is Planet Innovation, an Australian-based medtech innovation company that has played a crucial role in the development and manufacturing of the AVATAR Foundry platform. Over the past two years, Planet Innovation has collaborated closely with Xcellbio to refine the instrument, ensuring it meets the rigorous demands of clinical-grade cell therapy manufacturing. The company, headquartered in Melbourne, has leveraged its state-of-the-art facilities and extensive expertise in medical device development to support Xcellbio in bringing this transformative technology to market.
Beyond the development phase, Planet Innovation will also provide on-the-ground technical support for the AVATAR Foundry platform during its deployment in clinical trials at Royal Perth Hospital. This partnership underscores the importance of seamless integration between cutting-edge biotechnology and world-class engineering in advancing cell therapy manufacturing.
“Xcellbio is challenging the status quo and exploring new frontiers for treating solid-tumor cancers that affect millions of patients globally. Planet Innovation is proud to stand alongside them and help bring their vision to life through our talent and technical facilities,” said Stuart Elliott, co-founder and CEO at Planet Innovation.
The Clinical Trial at Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital, a leading medical institution in Western Australia, will be the site of the upcoming clinical trial utilizing the AVATAR Foundry platform. The trial is set to commence in mid-2025 and will run for several years, with the goal of optimizing TIL manufacturing processes to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients. Instruments will be manufactured and shipped directly from Planet Innovation’s facilities to support the trial’s execution.
By collaborating with Xcellbio and Planet Innovation, Royal Perth Hospital aims to become a global leader in advanced cell therapy research and development. The hospital’s involvement in this initiative highlights its commitment to pioneering new treatment modalities that have the potential to transform patient care.
Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Patient Care
The collaboration between Xcellbio, Planet Innovation, and Royal Perth Hospital represents a significant milestone in the evolution of cell therapy manufacturing. By leveraging advanced biomanufacturing technologies and engineering expertise, this partnership aims to overcome longstanding barriers in the field, ultimately making these life-saving therapies more accessible to patients in Australia and beyond.
“Our long-term partnership with Planet Innovation and this new agreement with the fantastic team at Royal Perth Hospital provide an opportunity to expand the availability of these life-saving therapies to patients,” said Brian Feth, co-founder and CEO at Xcellbio. “We are excited by the prospect of improving cell therapy manufacturing and making these important treatments a more feasible option for patients in Australia and, ultimately, around the world.”
The ability to streamline and optimize cell therapy manufacturing is a crucial step toward making these treatments scalable and affordable. Currently, the production of personalized cell therapies is both time- and resource-intensive, which limits their accessibility to a broader patient population. By integrating AVATAR Foundry into the clinical workflow, Xcellbio aims to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with producing high-quality TIL therapies.
Implications for the Future of Cancer Treatment
The success of this initiative could have far-reaching implications for the future of oncology. If the AVATAR Foundry platform proves effective in enhancing the potency and persistence of immune cells in the TME, it could pave the way for broader adoption of TIL therapies and other cell-based immunotherapies for solid tumors. This would mark a major leap forward in the fight against some of the most challenging cancers, such as lung, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers, which have historically been resistant to conventional treatments.
Moreover, the integration of advanced cell therapy manufacturing technologies could set a new industry standard, encouraging further innovation in the field. The collaboration between Xcellbio, Planet Innovation, and Royal Perth Hospital serves as a model for how interdisciplinary partnerships can drive meaningful progress in biomedicine.
As the clinical trial progresses, researchers and clinicians will closely monitor the efficacy of AVATAR Foundry-enhanced TIL therapies, gathering critical data that could inform future regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts. If successful, this approach could open the door to next-generation cell therapies that are not only more effective but also more widely available to cancer patients worldwide.
