Terumo and Cognate BioServices said today they inked a collaborative cellular and immunotherapy products development deal.

Through the collaborative deal, Cognate will become a center for development and contract manufacturing for Terumo, using the Quantum cell expansion system. The companies said the system is designed for preclinical and clinical manufacturing of adherent and nod-adherent cell types including mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and T-cells.

“We are delighted to be working with Terumo BCT. Their long history of automating the handling of blood products is a great fit with our team, which has been at the forefront of large-scale contract manufacturing for therapeutic products derived from blood and other sources. This collaboration is especially timely in light of the tidal wave of immunotherapy products at our doorstep, and we look forward to being able to expand our offering of innovative technologies to our current and future clients,” Cognate BioServices CEO Kelly Ganjeisaid, according to an SEC filing.

The collaborative deal will allow for rapid proof-of-concept studies to be performed using the Quantum system, as well as for a quick transition from a manual process into closed, automated manufacturing.

“This collaboration is a game changer because it replaces a manual process which can be burdensome. The Quantum system has been on the market for more than five years, and organizations moving into clinical trials need the support of a leading contract manufacturing organization like Cognate to scale their manufacturing goals,” Terumo BCT cell therapy tech veep Dave Flaten said in prepared remarks.