ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 6, 2025 — MaxCyte, Inc. announced a Strategic Platform License (SPL) agreement with Moonlight Bio to enable the scalable development and manufacturing of engineered T cell therapies for solid tumors, using MaxCyte’s proprietary Flow Electroporation® and ExPERT™ technology platforms. The collaboration aims to accelerate preclinical and clinical progress in gene-edited immunotherapies, addressing one of oncology’s most persistent challenges—effectively treating solid tumors.
Science Significance
The agreement underscores how advanced cell engineering platforms are reshaping oncology treatment paradigms. MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation® technology enables precise and efficient non-viral gene delivery, improving consistency and cell viability. For Moonlight Bio, this technology supports the creation of potency-enhanced T cells capable of penetrating and surviving within solid tumor microenvironments. Such innovations mark an important step toward overcoming the immunosuppressive barriers that have historically limited CAR-T success in solid cancers.
Regulatory Significance
MaxCyte’s ExPERT™ platform is already GMP-ready and regulatory-proven, aligning with FDA and EMA expectations for advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). This partnership allows Moonlight Bio to develop its clinical manufacturing under compliant, scalable, and validated systems that meet current cGxP quality standards. This ensures that future investigational new drug (IND) submissions will benefit from established regulatory infrastructure supporting safety, traceability, and reproducibility in gene-edited therapies.
Business Significance
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The SPL provides non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights for Moonlight Bio to leverage MaxCyte’s platform. In return, MaxCyte will receive annual licensing fees and program-based revenue, extending its recurring income stream from cell therapy partners. This agreement expands MaxCyte’s global portfolio of cell engineering collaborations, strengthening its position in the cell and gene therapy ecosystem, while enabling Moonlight Bio to scale its T cell pipeline efficiently and cost-effectively.
Patients’ Significance
For patients, this collaboration brings new hope for solid tumor treatment—a therapeutic area with few durable immunotherapy options. By combining MaxCyte’s proven engineering technology with Moonlight Bio’s innovative T cell designs, the alliance could deliver next-generation immunotherapies capable of durable tumor control. This progress aligns with a broader mission to make personalized, gene-edited cancer therapies more accessible to those with limited treatment options.
Policy Significance
The partnership supports ongoing U.S. and global efforts to expand innovation in gene and cell therapies through policies that encourage safe, compliant, and rapid translation from lab to clinic. By adopting validated manufacturing systems, Moonlight Bio aligns with public health priorities promoting standardization, quality assurance, and patient safety in emerging therapeutic technologies.
The collaboration between MaxCyte and Moonlight Bio highlights a pivotal advancement in cell therapy manufacturing and translational oncology. By combining engineering precision with clinical ambition, the partners aim to redefine the future of solid tumor immunotherapy—translating scientific innovation into patient-focused, life-saving treatments.
Source: MaxCyte Press Release
