Multiply Labs, which develops robotic systems to automate pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, raised a $75M Series B led by Patrick Soon-Shiong's NantWorks

Pharmaceutical production costs may fall significantly as robotic automation becomes more accessible for specialized therapies.

Multiply Labs, a startup focused on automating pharmaceutical manufacturing, has secured $75 million in a Series B funding round led by Patrick Soon-Shiong's NantWorks. The investment also saw participation from other significant backers, including AstraZeneca and robotics manufacturer Teradyne. Multiply Labs develops specialized robotic clusters designed to automate complex and manual workflows in drug production, particularly for cell and gene therapies. These systems utilize robotic arms on a rail system with specialized enclosures for different manufacturing equipment and can even perform tasks like stirring vials. The technology aims to significantly increase manufacturing throughput and reduce costs, with Multiply Labs claiming a potential 100x boost in throughput and a 74% decrease in cost per dose. The company plans to use the new capital to expand its production capacity and support a wider range of therapies.

Multiply Labs' approach directly addresses a critical bottleneck in pharmaceutical manufacturing: the difficulty of regulatory approval for changes to manual processes. By designing robotic systems that meticulously replicate existing manual workflows, the company bypasses the need for extensive revalidation. This innovation could accelerate the adoption of automation in producing highly personalized treatments like cell and gene therapies, where manual labor is a major cost driver.

The substantial Series B funding, coupled with backing from major players like AstraZeneca, signals strong market confidence in robotic automation for biopharmaceutical production. Investors are betting on Multiply Labs' ability to scale its technology, which promises to not only lower costs but also increase the speed and reliability of manufacturing for complex drugs. Future developments to watch will include the company's success in expanding its therapy support and the broader industry's response to this automated manufacturing model.