Bracco expands Switzerland site for GMP cell therapy manufacturing

Bracco Imaging is upgrading its manufacturing site in Geneva, Switzerland to support clinical-grade GMP manufacturing of its cell therapy-enabling microbubble technology, according to the company. Commercial access to the GMP-grade cell selection and activation product is expected by mid-2027.

The upgrades expand Bracco’s internal manufacturing capabilities for its streptavidin-conjugated lipid-based microbubble platform, which the company said can separate and activate specific cell subtypes in a single step. According to Bracco, most cell therapy workflows currently rely on magnetic bead technologies for cell enrichment, a process that can require multiple steps and create regulatory and quality challenges. The company’s bead-free technology, first announced earlier this year, was designed to enable faster, more scalable cell therapy manufacturing.

The facility modernization includes automated compounding equipment, new purification systems, and an open restricted access barrier system to improve product protection during aseptic operations. Bracco said the upgrades will enable larger batch production, improved process monitoring, and greater manufacturing control.

According to the company, the Geneva-based R&D site has maintained GMP certification from Swissmedic for nearly 30 years. Bracco said the modernization is intended to align the site with evolving GMP expectations while supporting nonclinical studies and scaled production of ancillary materials for advanced cell therapy workflows.