Fresenius Kabi and TQ Therapeutics strike deal to scale T-cell therapy manufacturing
Fresenius Kabi and TQ Therapeutics have entered into a strategic-development agreement aimed at improving the scalability and efficiency of cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing. The agreement grants Fresenius Kabi an exclusive licence to develop, manufacture, and distribute products incorporating TQ Therapeutics’ proprietary cell selection technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, TQ Therapeutics’ affinity and column-based cell isolation technology will be integrated into Fresenius Kabi’s Cue® Cell Processing System. The combined platform is designed to isolate T cells from whole blood and apheresis products in under two hours, with the aim of producing high-purity T cells consistently and efficiently for CGT manufacturing applications.
Automation at the core of the collaboration
The integrated system is intended to deliver an automated and robust workflow that supports therapeutic developers in bringing treatments to patients more quickly. Saurabh Bhasin, Head of Portfolio, Cell Therapies & Contract Manufacturing Operations at Fresenius Kabi, said, “By integrating TQ Therapeutics’ novel selection technology into our Cue system, our aim is to improve manufacturing success and scalability — key steps toward supporting the advancement of cell and gene therapies.”
TQ Therapeutics, headquartered in Martinsried, Germany, brings to the partnership its CELLfinity platform and EXiVO approach — a hybrid extracorporeal in-vivo CGT strategy. The company’s focus is on developing ultra-short processes that can be performed closer to the point of care, simplifying treatment workflows and reducing the logistical burden associated with current CGT manufacturing models.
Broader patient access in focus
Christian Eckert, chief executive officer of TQ Therapeutics, commented: “This agreement with Fresenius Kabi allows us to bring our proprietary technology to a broader audience with the goal of accelerating the development of next-generation cell therapies.”
Cell and gene therapy continues to demonstrate clinical promise across oncology and other serious conditions, yet manufacturing complexity and cost remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. This collaboration seeks to address those constraints through integrated automation and point-of-care compatibility.
Industry debut at Phacilitate ATW 2026
Both companies showcased the Cue Cell Processing System alongside the in-development cell selection module at Phacilitate Advanced Therapies Week 2026, in February in San Diego, California
For more information, visit: www.fresenius-kabi.com/us
