CELLforCURE by SEQENS has partnered with Galapagos to manufacture GLPG5101, a CD19-directed CAR-T therapy, for upcoming clinical trials in relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

The deal supports Galapagos’ decentralized manufacturing model, with production to take place at CELLforCURE’s GMP-certified facility in Les Ulis, just outside Paris.

The collaboration is designed to bring fresh, early-memory-enriched cell therapies closer to the point of care. Galapagos’ platform enables delivery of CAR-T products with a median vein-to-vein time of seven days, eliminating the need for cryopreservation and avoiding cytotoxic bridging therapy. The Les Ulis site will serve as a regional manufacturing hub to support trial sites across Paris and the wider French healthcare network.

CELLforCURE by SEQENS, an experienced CDMO authorized by the French regulator ANSM, has supported advanced therapy development and manufacturing for more than five years. Its work with French hospitals has helped establish some of the first local CAR-T manufacturing pathways in the European Union. The partnership may be expanded to include additional candidates from Galapagos’ cell therapy pipeline.

“We are proud and honored to support Galapagos at this pivotal stage of development,” said Marc-Olivier Mignon, President of CELLforCURE by SEQENS. “Our GMP-compliant infrastructure and expertise in commercial-scale manufacturing will enable the rapid release of fresh, early-memory-enriched cell therapies with the potential to transform treatment outcomes.”

GLPG5101 is part of Galapagos’ broader strategy to develop decentralized, scalable cell therapy platforms that address major bottlenecks in supply chain and patient access. By shortening production timelines and simplifying logistics, the company aims to deliver cell therapies that are not only faster to manufacture but also better tolerated and more accessible to patients in need.

The Les Ulis facility offers a strategic location near leading cancer centers, with infrastructure designed to support both clinical and future commercial needs. The collaboration reflects a broader shift in the cell therapy field, as companies move toward localized, flexible manufacturing networks that align with patient-centered care models.

The deal also reinforces France’s growing role in advanced therapy development, and the increasing importance of CDMOs equipped to handle complex autologous workflows across regulatory, technical, and clinical interfaces.