Strategic Foundation: Why Commercial Ready Manufacturing Should Be Considered From Day One

Cell therapies hold remarkable promise, but complex manufacturing and high batch costs continue to limit patient access. Larry Lockwood, CCO at ElevateBio, explains why process design must account for scalability, consistency, and cost of goods from the earliest stages of development. He explores how automation, purpose-built facilities, and robotics could reduce manual intervention and help bring batch costs below $100,000. The conversation also examines ElevateBio’s expansion into Pittsburgh, where lessons from its Waltham operations are shaping a facility designed for more efficient technology transfer and manufacturing. From supporting early-stage programs to preparing therapies for commercial production, the discussion highlights the infrastructure and technical expertise needed to industrialize cell therapy.

Learn how smarter development choices could help make advanced therapies accessible to broader patient populations.