Avantor Partners With BlueWhale Bio to Advance CAR-T Manufacturing

Avantor AVTR recently entered into a strategic partnership with BlueWhale Bio to accelerate innovation in CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing. The collaboration merges Avantor’s bioprocessing expertise with BlueWhale’s proprietary Synecta cell-derived nanoparticle (CDNP) technology to streamline cell activation and expansion.

The partnership aims to address key bottlenecks in CAR-T production by enhancing scalability, reducing variability and shortening time-to-patient. Together, the companies plan to deliver next-generation manufacturing solutions that expand patient access and strengthen Avantor’s footprint in the fast-growing cell therapy market.

Likely Trend of AVTR Stock Following the News

Following the announcement, the company's shares traded flat at yesterday’s closing. In the year-to-date period, shares have lost 30.8% against the industry’s 0.5% growth. The S&P 500 has gained 14.5% in the same time frame.

In the long term, the BlueWhale Bio partnership could strengthen Avantor’s position in the high-growth cell and gene therapy market by expanding its portfolio of advanced bioprocessing solutions. By integrating cutting-edge CAR-T manufacturing technologies, Avantor can deepen its presence with biotech and pharma clients, capture higher-margin opportunities in GMP-grade reagents, and drive recurring revenue from next-generation therapy platforms—supporting sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value.

AVTR currently has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion.

More on the Partnership

For Avantor, the partnership with BlueWhale Bio marks a strategic step toward deepening its role in the fast-evolving cell therapy manufacturing landscape. Avantor will leverage its bioprocessing and GMP-grade reagent production capabilities to scale up BlueWhale’s CDNP platform, a breakthrough designed to mimic natural T-cell stimulation. Data from BlueWhale Bio’s preclinical and clinical programs show earlier cell division, higher cell yields, and fewer process interventions, suggesting the potential to shorten CAR-T production time while minimizing cell stress during manufacturing. The technology is already being used in a clinical trial featuring a three-day CAR-T manufacturing process, underscoring its promise for accelerating therapy turnaround and expanding patient access.

This collaboration allows Avantor to integrate cutting-edge activation and expansion reagents into its global manufacturing ecosystem, reinforcing its reputation as a critical enabler of next-generation therapies. By combining its scale, supply reliability, and regulatory expertise with BlueWhale Bio’s scientific innovation, Avantor is well-positioned to deliver a differentiated manufacturing solution for CAR-T developers. Over time, this could enhance Avantor’s presence in high-growth markets, strengthen long-term customer partnerships, and open new avenues for value creation as demand for efficient, scalable cell therapy production continues to rise globally.

Favorable Industry Prospects for AVTR

Per a report by Grand View Research, the global cell and gene therapy manufacturing market size was valued at $7.28 billion in 2022 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 26.6% from 2023 to 2030.

AVTR’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, AVTR carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Masimo MASI, Merit Medical System MMSI and West Pharmaceutical Services WST. Each stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Masimo shares have lost 10.4% so far this year compared with the industry’s 7.4% decline. Estimates for the company’s 2025 earnings per share have increased 1.3% to $5.30 in the past 30 days.

MASI’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 13.8%. In the last reported quarter, it posted an earnings surprise of 8.1%.

Estimates for Merit Medical’s 2025 earnings per share have increased 0.8% to $3.63 in the past 60 days. Shares of the company have lost 13.8% so far this year against the industry’s 1.1% growth.

MMSI’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 12.92%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 17.44%.

Estimates for West Pharmaceutical’s 2025 earnings per share have increased 1.2% to $6.74 in the past 60 days. Shares of the company have lost 18.2% so far this year against the industry’s 1% growth.

WST’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.81%. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 21.85%.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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