The Drug Cell, a French NewCo, has been officially established marking a decisive step in the European cell therapy sector. This high-potential industrial ecosystem is designed to develop scalable and more accessible cell therapies. The Drug Cell, or TDC, brings together nine leading French biotech and innovation players: Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS), Centre d’Étude des Cellules Souches/I-Stem, Gpi France, Carroucell, EVerZom, MGA Technologies, University of Montpellier, CHU of Montpellier, and CHU of Rennes.
This milestone is reinforced by the confirmation of € 152 million in funding from the French General Secretariat for Investment, under the “France 2030” initiative . These resources will allow The Drug Cell to launch and manage the first two phases of the project: research and development processes and the First Industrial Deployment (FID). This strategic support will enable the company to initiate the first clinical trials by 2030, with an estimated time to market in 2034.
The company aims to establish itself a French and European leading player in regenerative medicine with advanced cell therapies. Its priority is to ensure access to innovative biotherapies at sustainable costs, laying the foundation for a globally competitive product. This will be achieved through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, where automation, artificial intelligence, and digital manufacturing will minimize errors, ensure real-time quality control, and enhance scalability. Meanwhile, the use of its own breakthrough technologies will strengthen the competitiveness and production autonomy of the developed solutions. Among the many innovations, the use of Digital Twin technology – virtual models that replicate cell behavior – will be implemented from the early stages. This will enable real-time monitoring and adaptation of each therapy, optimizing treatments even before patient testing.
Recently, Sergio Manzana (GPI France) was appointed President of The Drug Cell. He stated: “The establishment of The Drug Cell marks a decisive step towards Europe’s industrial autonomy in cell therapy production, with France at the heart of this revolution. We will provide new solutions for severe diseases that currently lack effective treatments, such as rare or genetic diseases. We are creating an unprecedented ecosystem that unites public and private actors, with the goal of demonstrating through real-world solutions the transformative impact of healthcare technologies on people’s lives.”
