Cellares, a company based in San Francisco, has secured $257 million in series D financing to support the completion of its cell therapy manufacturing plants. The funding is intended to help the company prepare for commercial-scale production starting next year.
Cellares has developed the Cell Shuttle platform, which automates and streamlines the process of making cell therapies. According to the company, this technology reduces process failures, labor requirements, and facility space needs. As a result, it aims to lower the cost of CAR T and other cell therapies.
In April 2025, Cellares became the first company to receive advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This status may help companies transition to new manufacturing processes more safely during drug development by reducing risks associated with major changes. More information about how FDA’s AMT designation could mitigate these risks can be found at https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/fda-advanced-manufacturing-technology-cell-therapy/704417/.
Among Cellares’ customers is Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), which entered into an agreement in 2024 for global CAR T capacity reservation and supply worth up to $380 million in upfront and milestone payments. This deal allows Cellares to manufacture CAR T cell therapies for BMS in the United States, European Union, and Japan. BMS also produces its own cell therapy products such as Abecma and Breyanzi.
The latest funding round was co-led by BlackRock and Eclipse. With this investment, Cellares plans to complete construction on facilities in Japan and the Netherlands. Earlier this month, Cellares announced it had leased a 105,000-square-foot site in the Netherlands that will focus on life sciences manufacturing. Construction is expected to finish in early 2026; clinical production could begin later that year with commercial-scale services anticipated by 2027.
The new Dutch facility will enable Cellares to provide cell therapies for patients across Europe. Because these treatments are often personalized and must be delivered quickly, having regional production capabilities is seen as critical for advancing programs through clinical trials toward broader use.
Cellares has also partnered with Cabaletta Bio. The two companies expect to produce their first good manufacturing practice-compliant cell therapy product using Cell Shuttle for clinical applications. The FDA recently approved an amendment allowing Cabaletta Bio’s trial to begin infusing patients with CAR T therapies made on Cell Shuttle during the first half of 2026.
With this latest fundraising round, Cellares’ total capital raised now exceeds $600 million; its previous series C round brought in $255 million in 2023. After several private rounds of investment, Cellares is considering an initial public offering as soon as late 2027.
