Xcell Biosciences

Xcell Biosciences develops the AVATAR platform, a cell therapy manufacturing technology that brings physiologically relevant tumor microenvironment (TME) control into cell therapy workflows. The platform integrates physiologic oxygen and pressure control directly into GMP workflows to train cells for the environments they face in vivo, improving potency, persistence, and predictability for solid tumor therapies. Its product line includes ODYSSEY for R&D and process development optimization, FOUNDRY for clinical and commercial manufacturing with closed, automated scale-up, and AI for functional evaluation using machine-learning models for rapid potency assessment. AVATAR-expanded CAR T cells demonstrate 70% greater potency under TME conditions compared to conventional methods, selectively expanding Tcm and Tscm populations associated with efficacy. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Xcell Biosciences has raised approximately $40.9M in Series B funding from investors including Illumina, Casdin Capital, DST Global, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Viking Global Investors, and LabCorp.