Bristol Myers Ends Cellares Manufacturing Deal as Cell-Therapy Company Reorganizes

Bristol Myers Squibb has ended its partnership with Cellares to manufacture its CAR-T blood-cancer therapy Breyanzi.

BMS said Cellares’ automated Cell Shuttle platform could not meet the requirements for producing Breyanzi at commercial scale. The decision applies specifically to Breyanzi and its approved manufacturing process.

The agreement, announced in 2024, was valued at up to $380 million and covered reserved manufacturing capacity in the United States, European Union and Japan.

Cellares CEO Fabian Gerlinghaus said the loss of a large pharmaceutical customer would require the company to resize and reorganize.

Cellares plans to eliminate about 100 positions. A California regulatory filing said affected employees—primarily in software engineering, quality control, design and manufacturing—are expected to be terminated by October 20.

Cellares said its other customers remain committed, with some discussing expanded programs and movement toward commercial manufacturing.