PRESS RELEASE: Icosagen As A Significant Contributor To Europe’s Advancement In Next-Generation CAR-T Manufacturing

Tartu, Estonia, [20 July 2026] – Icosagen is set to play a key role in Europe's efforts to make CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing more robust, automated, and accessible to a broader patient population.

The EU-funded project S.O.L.A.R.I.S. – A New Dawn in Next-Generation CAR-T Manufacturing is driving the advancement of hospital-based CAR-T manufacturing across Europe through the development of next-generation manufacturing systems. Coordinated by Miltenyi Biotec, the consortium unites six strategically selected manufacturing centers, with Icosagen among its key partners.

Despite the transformative potential of CAR-T therapies, patient access remains constrained by high treatment costs, lengthy manufacturing timelines, and complex logistics. Hospital-based manufacturing offers a promising alternative by reducing costs, simplifying supply chains, shortening lead times, and supporting the wider adoption of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) within healthcare systems.

"Currently, Estonia is one of the few countries in Europe where life-saving CAR-T cell therapies are unavailable to patients. Together with our partners, Tartu University Hospital and North Estonia Medical Centre, we have already established the foundation for point-of-care manufacturing in Estonia and are planning to initiate treatment of the first patients in fall 2026,"said Anu Ustav, Medical Director at Icosagen. "The know-how, technological advancements, and synergy brought by the S.O.L.A.R.I.S. project will be of great value to the Estonian CAR-T landscape, enabling us to advance further and faster towards becoming a next-generation CAR-T manufacturing hub. These developments will support clinical research, accelerate access to innovative cellular therapies, and ultimately benefit patients."

For Icosagen, participation in S.O.L.A.R.I.S. builds on ongoing efforts in Estonia to bring both established and next-generation personalized cell therapies closer to patients while strengthening local expertise, infrastructure, and collaborative networks.

“Europe needs strong collaboration between hospitals, academia, and industry to make advanced cell therapies more scalable and accessible,” said Tanel Mahlakõiv, Chief Scientific Officer at Icosagen. “Through the S.O.L.A.R.I.S. project, Icosagen is proud to contribute to the development of next-generation, hospital-based CAR-T manufacturing and to strengthen local cell therapy capabilities in Estonia as part of a broader European network.”

Icosagen is already advancing Estonia’s CAR-T capabilities together with Tartu University Hospital and North Estonia Medical Centre. Within this partnership, Icosagen leads process development, research and development, preclinical studies, and the manufacture of therapy-grade CAR-T cells that meet stringent quality standards. The clinical partners oversee patient treatment and provide care throughout the entire CAR-T therapy pathway.

About Icosagen
Icosagen is Estonia’s largest biotechnology company and a leading European CRDMO — Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization. With over 26 years of experience, Icosagen combines preclinical CRO and clinical CDMO capabilities under one roof, supporting the discovery, development and manufacturing of protein drug candidates from early research concepts up to clinical GMP manufacturing.

About S.O.L.A.R.I.S.
S.O.L.A.R.I.S., A New Dawn in Next-Generation CAR T Manufacturing, is an EU-funded international collaboration project focused on developing and evaluating hospital-based manufacturing of CAR-T cells. The project aims to make CAR-T cell manufacturing more efficient, robust and suitable for implementation in healthcare environments. SOLARIS is coordinated by Miltenyi Biotec and includes six strategically selected manufacturing centers across Europe.

Media contacts
Icosagen
Tanel Mahlakõiv, PhD
Director of Translational Research
Icosagen Cell Factory
Phone: +372 5365 0537
Email: tanel.mahlakoiv@icosagen.com

S.O.L.A.R.I.S. project
Miltenyi Biotec Corporate Communications
Email: CorpCom@miltenyi.com