CPC Biotech, a unit of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV), announced a collaboration with Multiply Labs to develop robotic systems for cell therapy manufacturing. The partnership focuses on creating automated solutions to reduce manufacturing bottlenecks and contamination risks in cell therapy production.

The collaboration centers on developing what CPC Biotech describes as the first aseptic connector designed for robotic operation. The solution combines CPC Biotech's MicroCNX Nano Series aseptic connectors with a proprietary interface engineered for manipulation by robotic grippers.

"Automation and the use of robotics are key to accelerating patient access to advanced therapies," said Troy Ostreng, Senior Product Manager for CPC Biotech's biopharmaceutical and cell therapy businesses. "To meet the growing need for faster, more efficient, high-quality cell therapy manufacturing, we're developing a first-ever aseptic connector for robotic operation."

San Francisco-based Multiply Labs applies robotics to cell and gene therapy production through a modular approach designed to minimize human contamination risk. The company's self-contained sterile processing robotic system operates without human operators entering the sterile environment.

"Today, cell therapy is done completely manually," said Fred Parietti, Multiply Labs' Co-Founder and CEO. "With robotic automation, we can unlock a level of scale and affordability that has not been possible with manual approaches."

The new connector addresses the challenge robots face when handling soft materials like bags or tubing by providing a rigid interface that robotic grippers can operate consistently. Both companies are focusing on maximizing production capacity in compact footprints while emphasizing ease of use, modularity, and scalability.

CPC Biotech manufactures connectors, pumps, and flow sensors for biopharmaceutical processing and is part of Dover Corporation's Pump Solutions Group division.