Charles River Rapid Cell Banking programs have been officially introduced by Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) to significantly accelerate release timelines for biopharmaceutical and advanced therapy developers. Announced in Wilmington, Mass., on September 17, 2026, the company’s new rapid, NGS-enabled cell banking platform delivers a 40% reduction in cell bank production timelines compared to the traditional industry standard of 20 weeks. This end-to-end solution combines rapid pre-bank and release testing packages with advanced in vitro characterization to enable biopharma clients to reach critical regulatory milestones faster and deliver innovative therapies to patients sooner.
To achieve these expedited timelines, Charles River leverages established expertise in rapid microbiological methods (RMM) for early microbial detection. The platform incorporates Celsis® ATP-Bioluminescence technology along with real-time PCR for rapid mycoplasma detection. By replacing labor-intensive traditional compendial testing with automated and objective analytical results, the program significantly compresses pre-bank and release testing turnaround times while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
Following the establishment of cell banks, the platform integrates Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) through Charles River’s proprietary iDTECT® platform to perform robust in vitro characterization services. NGS technology transforms genetic analysis and pathogen testing by offering scalable, rapid, and broad viral detection capabilities. This comprehensive approach ensures that high-quality cell banks and advanced therapeutics meet strict regulatory and safety requirements before proceeding down the development pipeline.
Enhancing Characterization and Safety via Charles River Rapid Cell Banking
Speaking on the operational impact of the new platform, Matthew Hewitt, Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Charles River, highlighted the efficiency gains for therapeutic developers:
“By leveraging our long-standing expertise in rapid test methods, we can expedite pre-bank and release testing timelines, enabling clients to establish and characterize cell banks quickly and move their product forward in development.”
The implementation of Charles River Rapid Cell Banking workflows directly supports the company’s broader commitment to reducing reliance on animal testing through its Alternative Methods Advancement Project™ (AMAP™). AMAP is a dedicated Charles River initiative focused on developing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and non-animal testing strategies aligned with the 3Rs framework (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement). The project is guided by a global cross-functional Scientific Advisory Board chaired by Dr. Namandjé N. Bumpus.
Through strategic investment in New Approach Methodologies, Charles River aims to modernize quality control and safety testing across the global drug development ecosystem. By uniting automated rapid microbiological assays with NGS-driven in vitro characterization, the initiative creates an efficient testing model that eliminates compendial delays without compromising precision or safety.
