Accelerating Cell Therapy Product Development Through Improved Fluid Dynamics Characterization

By Tom Heathman, EngD, and Hamza Patel, PhD, Oribiotech

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) represent some of the most promising advances in modern medicine, with the potential to cure cancers, address rare diseases, and treat conditions once considered untreatable. Yet, despite this promise, fewer than 5% of eligible patients worldwide currently receive these therapies. The challenge is not rooted in science but in manufacturing. Production still relies heavily on manual, research-grade methods that cannot scale efficiently, driving up costs and limiting access.

To unlock the full potential of CGTs, manufacturing must shift toward purpose-built, automated, and digitally integrated systems. Unlike retrofitted tools, next-generation platforms are designed to deliver both high biological performance and scalable, consistent output. Advances such as fluid dynamics modeling and real-time process analytics are enabling developers to better understand cell culture environments, optimize nutrient and oxygen delivery, and minimize damaging shear forces. These insights reduce inefficiencies, improve cell yield and viability, and accelerate production timelines.