Multiply Labs has introduced a robotic manufacturing system that it reports can reduce the cost of producing personalized cell therapies by 74%, based on data from peer-reviewed studies conducted in collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The company’s modular robotic platform uses collaborative robot arms supplied by Universal Robots to automate the complex and traditionally manual production of therapies derived from a patient’s own cells.
Cell and gene therapies, which are often used to treat conditions such as leukemia and lymphoma, involve individualized production processes that are not conducive to batch manufacturing. Historically, these therapies have been produced manually, requiring hundreds of steps performed by highly trained scientists. The manual nature of production contributes to high costs—ranging from \$300,000 to \$2 million per dose—and exposes the process to contamination risk.
The new robotic system developed by Multiply Labs employs multiple Universal Robots arms operating simultaneously with collision avoidance technology, allowing them to replicate manual tasks in parallel and in a more compact footprint. According to Dr. Jonathan Esensten, formerly of UCSF and now Director of the Advanced Biotherapy Center at Sheba Medical Center, this system reduced manufacturing costs by approximately 74% in direct comparisons with manual methods. He stated that the robotic approach eliminates human contact with the cells, reducing contamination risks and enabling production in a smaller physical space.
Multiply Labs reports that its system enables up to 100 times more patient doses per square foot of cleanroom compared to manual methods. This spatial efficiency, combined with the absence of human handling, is cited as contributing to improved sterility and reliability in production.
A key aspect of the platform is its use of imitation learning, where robots are trained by observing human scientists performing production tasks. CEO Fred Parietti explained that the robots learn to replicate existing processes, which helps ensure fidelity to previously approved procedures. This approach, according to Esensten, may reduce the regulatory burden for pharmaceutical companies by avoiding the need to revalidate manufacturing processes.
Multiply Labs selected Universal Robots’ collaborative arms following comparative testing of various robotic systems. According to the company, the choice was based on features such as six-axis motion, precision force control, software integration, cleanroom compatibility, and community support.
The robotic cluster is currently in use at several global pharmaceutical companies, and further validation is underway through collaborations with researchers at institutions including Stanford University.
Multiply Labs, headquartered in San Francisco, develops autonomous, cloud-controlled robotic systems for the pharmaceutical industry. Its team includes experts in robotics and pharmaceutical science and works with organizations involved in advanced drug manufacturing.
