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WILMINGTON, Mass. - Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL), a $8.65 billion market cap company with a "Good" financial health rating according to InvestingPro, and BioTech Social Inc. (BSI) announced Thursday they are exploring a potential collaboration that would give participants in Charles River’s Incubator and Accelerator Programs access to BSI’s investment crowdfunding platform.
The proposed partnership would enable early-stage cell and gene therapy developers to raise up to $5 million annually through the BioTech Funding Portal, potentially helping companies bridge funding gaps in early development stages. With annual revenue of $4.02 billion, Charles River has demonstrated significant scale in supporting biotech innovation.
"We’re thrilled to explore this collaboration that will open up an exciting new funding pathway to bridge innovation with the right audiences and investors," said Kerstin Dolph, Corporate Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Charles River.
If formalized, the arrangement would specifically benefit participants in Charles River’s Incubator Program (CIP) and Accelerator Program (CAP), which were established in 2024 to provide developers with regulatory expertise, quality guidance, and access to laboratory facilities.
Neva West, CEO of BioTech Funding Portal, stated the platform aims "to harness the power of non-accredited investors to support research that might otherwise go unfunded."
The announcement follows the April 2025 launch of the inaugural CIP cohort. Applications for the next cohort are now being accepted, with Charles River and BioTech Social potentially evaluating submissions jointly ahead of the European Cell and Gene Therapy Summit in September.
Charles River has expanded its cell and gene therapy portfolio through acquisitions to meet growing demand for plasmid DNA, viral vector, and cell therapy services.
This information is based on a press release statement from Charles River Laboratories.
In other recent news, Charles River Laboratories International Inc. has seen several notable developments that could interest investors. The company has been upgraded by multiple analysts, reflecting positive expectations for its future performance. Citi upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy, citing strong prospects in the Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA) segment, with a new price target of $200. Redburn-Atlantic also shifted its rating to Buy, although it slightly reduced the price target to $182, noting improving demand in the DSA business. Furthermore, Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $180, maintaining a Buy rating, after Charles River consistently exceeded earnings per share predictions. Evercore ISI upgraded the stock to Outperform with a price target of $170, highlighting a reacceleration in bookings and a cooperation agreement with Elliott Management.
Additionally, Charles River Labs extended its partnership with CHDI Foundation to advance Huntington’s disease research. This renewed collaboration aims to integrate more of Charles River’s services into CHDI’s initiatives, enhancing drug discovery and development efforts. The company has also revealed strategic moves to realign its cost structure and improve operational efficiencies, which are expected to yield incremental gains as market conditions recover.
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