C3i

What C3i does

C3i Center Inc. is a Montreal-based Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in cell and gene therapies. Founded in 2016 as the Centre for Commercialisation of Cancer Immunotherapy under a federal Centres of Excellence program, the company operates the only fully validated cGMP facility in Canada compliant with FDA, EMA, and Health Canada regulations with commercial manufacturing capacity. The company manufactures autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, CAR-T products (notably Triumvira's TAC01-HER2 using Lonza's Cocoon platform), CRISPR-Cas9-edited stem cell grafts (Vor Biopharma's trem-cel, Canada's first CRISPR-edited stem cell clinical product, published in Nature Medicine in May 2026), and is expanding into viral vector manufacturing with a new commercial-scale facility expected end of 2026.

C3i runs an integrated one-stop-shop model spanning five service lines: CDMO Manufacturing (process development through commercial production), Laboratory Services (QC, assay development, GLP/GMP testing, CAP-accredited), Precision Medicine Services (companion diagnostics, therapeutic monitoring, integrated patient support programs launched May 2026), Clinical Research (regulatory affairs, monitoring, pharmacovigilance, KOL access), and Consultation Services. Revenue is generated through multi-phase, project-based contracts with pharmaceutical and biotech clients; pricing is quote-driven and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion combines direct enterprise business development with deep event participation (ISCT, CellCAN, BioCanRx Summit4CI, Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Meeting on the Mesa) and strategic ecosystem partnerships across the Canadian CGT landscape.

The customer base spans clinical-stage biotechs (Vor Biopharma, Triumvira Immunologics, ExCellThera) and large pharma (Gilead Sciences Canada, AstraZeneca Canada). C3i holds minority equity in Triumvira following contribution to its $55M Series A and serves as the translational manufacturing partner for academic programs through OIRM and CellCAN. The company is privately held, headquartered at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, with satellite offices in Toronto (MaRS) and engagement in Laval, and 51-100 employees with leadership under CEO Yvan Côté (appointed October 2024).

Name

C3i

Legal name

Centre C3i Inc.

Website

https://c3icenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

C3i is a Montreal-based CDMO providing end-to-end cell and gene therapy manufacturing, laboratory, precision medicine, clinical research, and consultation services to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. It operates the only fully validated cGMP facility in Canada with FDA, EMA, and Health Canada commercial manufacturing approvals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy CDMO Services

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy CDMO (HLAGABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gene Therapy (Viral Vector/Plasmid) CDMO (HLAGABAE), Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), Companion Diagnostic (CDx) Co-Development Services (biopharma partnerships, clinical strategy) (HLAAAMAB)

Keywords

• Cell therapy manufacturing
• Gene therapy CDMO
• CGMP contract manufacturing
• Biopharmaceutical development services
• Companion diagnostics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CDMO Contract Manufacturing Services: C3i provides contract development and manufacturing services for cell and gene therapies, offering end-to-end services from process development to commercial manufacturing. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with pharmaceutical and biotech clients, typically structured as multi-phase engagements (preclinical/clinical/commercial). Services include cGMP manufacturing, quality control testing, regulatory support, and technology transfer. The model is project-value based rather than volume-based, reflecting the personalized nature of cell therapies.
2. Precision Medicine Services: Newly launched (May 2026) division offering companion diagnostics (CDx), therapeutic monitoring, and integrated patient support programs to pharmaceutical and biotech partners. Services span from assay design and validation through commercial-scale national patient programs. Revenue generated through service contracts with pharma partners, typically structured as multi-year program agreements.
3. Laboratory Services and Diagnostics: Comprehensive laboratory services including biomanufacturing quality control, assay development, qualification and validation, and GLP/GMP testing. Also includes biomarker and diagnostic testing services such as TCR-beta sequencing, pharmacogenomics, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic monitoring.
4. Consultation and Advisory Services: Cell and gene therapy consulting covering action plan development, expert network access, financial expertise, process optimization, partner selection, and clinical trial preparation. Consultants support clients from conception through commercialization.
5. Clinical Research Services: Full range of clinical trial support services including regulatory affairs, clinical monitoring, pharmacovigilance, data management, and submission services. Access to a network of investigators and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

C3i is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing end-to-end cell and gene therapy services spanning process development, cGMP manufacturing, quality control testing, clinical research, and precision medicine (companion diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring). The company operates a fully validated cGMP facility in Montreal with Health Canada DEL and EMA commercial manufacturing licenses, producing autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, CAR-T, CRISPR-edited stem cells, and viral vectors for clinical and commercial use.

Product overview

C3i is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing integrated cell and gene therapy solutions. The company operates a one-stop-shop model with multiple integrated service lines: Manufacturing (process development through commercial production), Laboratory Services (quality control and assay development), Precision Medicine Services (companion diagnostics, therapeutic monitoring, and patient support programs), Clinical Research Services (regulatory, monitoring, pharmacovigilance), and Consultation Services. The company holds Health Canada and EMA commercial manufacturing licenses and is Canada's only fully validated cGMP facility with commercial capacity. Recent expansion includes the Precision Medicine Services division launched in May 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDMO Manufacturing Services End-to-end cell and gene therapy manufacturing services from process development through commercial manufacturing, including autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, CAR-T, CRISPR-edited stem cells, and viral vectors, conducted in a cGMP-compliant facility with EMA and Health Canada DEL licenses for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
• Laboratory Services Comprehensive laboratory services including biomanufacturing quality control, assay development, qualification and validation, with GLP and GMP compliant labs offering flow cytometry and PCR-based assays for cell and gene therapy developers.
• Precision Medicine Services Companion diagnostics design, validation and clinical implementation, therapeutic monitoring (immune reconstitution, cytokine profiling, TCR\u03b2 sequencing, chimerism, anti-drug antibody testing), and integrated patient support programs including sample logistics, appointment booking, and adverse event reporting, for pharmaceutical and biotech partners.
• Clinical Research Services Full range of clinical trial services including regulatory affairs, clinical monitoring, pharmacovigilance, data management, and submission services, with access to a network of investigators and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) for cell and gene therapy developers.
• Consultation Services Cell and gene therapy consulting including personalized action plans, expert network access, financial expertise for securing financing, biomanufacturing process optimization, partner selection support, and clinical trial preparation guidance for academic researchers, biotech startups, and established companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• C3i's real-time PCR mycoplasma assay delivers results in 1 day compared to traditional compendial methods requiring 28 days, directly accelerating patient access to treatment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature11 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CellCANcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026C3i participated as a Gold Partner in the 4th Pan-Canadian Strategic Forum on Cell and Gene Therapies organized by CellCAN (April 7-9, 2026, Sheraton Laval). C3i hosted an official networking evening and Yvan Côté, President and CEO, participated in a roundtable discussion titled 'Seizing the Opportunity for Canada'. The partnership reflects shared commitment to fostering dialogue and strengthening the Canadian cell and gene therapy ecosystem.
• Alliance for Regenerative MedicinecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2023C3i was a Platinum Sponsor of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine's 2023 Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa (October 10-12, 2023), North America's leading gathering of experts and leaders in the cell and gene therapy sector. C3i connected with senior executives and top stakeholders to address pressing issues in cell and gene therapies.
• AstraZeneca CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2021AstraZeneca Canada supported the growth of the C3i Lymphoma Registry led by Dr. Isabelle Fleury at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. The registry is designed to conduct Real World Evidence (RWE) studies in lymphoproliferative disorders, providing insight into patient outcomes and facilitating market access of innovative therapies.
• Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine (OIRM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2020C3i partnered with OIRM to boost stem cell commercialization efforts in Canada. Both organizations leverage their unique resources and expertise to help Canadian research teams overcome hurdles in regenerative medicine translation from clinical trials to therapeutic application. A joint Industry and Investor Program was launched including 'pitch days' and technology scouting calls. C3i established a satellite office in Toronto's MaRS Discovery District as part of this partnership. OIRM core provincial funding was not renewed, which may impact the partnership's future scope.
• Gilead Sciences CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2019Gilead Sciences Canada participated in supporting the development of the Lymphoma Registry at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (CIUSSS-EMTL). The registry, launched in September 2017 under Dr. Isabelle Fleury's leadership, captures real-world evidence on outcomes of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders treated outside of clinical trials.
• Triumvira ImmunologicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2018C3i entered a strategic relationship with Triumvira Immunologics to deliver cell therapy products (TAC01-HER2) for global Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. C3i committed to underwrite an investment in the company. Triumvira develops novel T cell cancer therapies using a proprietary T-cell antigen coupler (TAC) platform. C3i uses Lonza's Cocoon Platform for automated manufacturing. C3i also contributed to Triumvira's $55M Series A financing round led by Leaps by Bayer and Northpond Ventures.
• BioCanRxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC3i participated in the Summit for Cancer Immunotherapy (Summit4CI) organized by BioCanRx in Vancouver (March 2026) and Toronto (April 2025). Jamie Sharp represented C3i to engage with teams behind promising immunotherapy programs and discuss manufacturing strategy integration from early development stages.
• LonzacoreTechnology or IntegrationC3i uses Lonza's proprietary Cocoon Platform, an automated and closed system for patient-scale cell therapy manufacturing, to overcome manufacturing challenges associated with personalized medicines. This represents the first clinical production use of a Cocoon system in Canada.
• Octane Orthobiologics IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC3i partnered with Octane Orthobiologics Inc and Orthopaedic Innovation Center Inc, with support from NGen, to automate and scale up biomanufacturing of cartilage implants for commercial-level production. NGen announced over $32.3 million in Global Innovation Cluster funding for this and 14 other advanced manufacturing projects, with industry contributions of $54.4 million.
• Orthopaedic Innovation Center IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC3i partnered with Octane Orthobiologics Inc and Orthopaedic Innovation Center Inc, with support from NGen, to automate and scale up biomanufacturing of cartilage implants for commercial-level production.
• INRS – Institut national de la recherche scientifiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC3i presented at INRS – Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre in Laval to introduce the role of CDMOs in the development of innovative therapies and highlight C3i's impact in scaling up, manufacturing, and commercializing therapeutic solutions. Aims to build bridges between research, industry, and the future of life sciences in Québec.
• International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerC3i participated in ISCT 2025 (May 7-10, New Orleans), a major global conference. C3i showcased its integrated CDMO offering as the first Canadian CDMO authorized by Health Canada for commercial manufacturing and also approved by EMA. Representatives Jamie Sharp and Cynthia Thérien engaged with industry leaders at booth #545.
• ThéCell – Québec's Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC3i participated in Effervescence Montréal 2025 organized by ThéCell. Yvan Côté, President and CEO, took part in discussions on advancements in regenerative medicine and innovative therapies, aligning with C3i's mission to make cell and gene therapies accessible.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories (Cell & Gene Therapy CDMO): Charles River Laboratories acquired Cobra Biologics and HemaCare to build a cell and gene therapy CDMO offering including plasmid, viral vector, and cell therapy manufacturing. Comparable as a broad incumbent CDMO with overlapping cell and gene therapy manufacturing, testing, and consulting services.
• Lonza Cell & Gene Technologies: Lonza is the world's largest CDMO with a dedicated Cell & Gene Technologies business offering autologous and allogeneic cell therapy, viral vector, and Cocoon platform manufacturing globally. C3i is a Cocoon platform partner of Lonza, making Lonza a critical technology supplier and the dominant incumbent CDMO that C3i competes against for cell therapy sponsors.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon CDMO): Thermo Fisher Scientific operates a global CDMO business (Patheon/Brammer Bio) with cell therapy and viral vector manufacturing capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent CDMO competing for cell and gene therapy sponsors with deeper resources and a wider service portfolio than C3i.
• Catalent Cell & Gene Therapy: Catalent is one of the largest global CDMOs with cell therapy manufacturing capabilities (formerly Paragon Bioservices) in the US and Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping cell therapy and viral vector GMP manufacturing services that competes with C3i for large pharma and biotech sponsors.

Direct peers

• Cellular Biomedicine Group: Cellular Biomedicine Group is a cell therapy-focused biopharmaceutical CDMO with GMP manufacturing capabilities for autologous and allogeneic cell therapies in China and the US. Comparable to C3i as a specialized cell therapy CDMO serving pharma and biotech sponsors with similar process development and manufacturing services.
• Minaris Regenerative Medicine: Minaris Regenerative Medicine is a global cell therapy CDMO with manufacturing sites in the US, Germany, and Japan, offering autologous and allogeneic cell therapy process development and GMP manufacturing. Directly comparable to C3i as a specialized cell therapy CDMO targeting biotech and pharma sponsors with similar process development, manufacturing, and quality release testing capabilities.
• Andelyn Biosciences: Andelyn Biosciences is a cell and gene therapy CDMO specializing in viral vector and plasmid DNA manufacturing plus cell therapy production, based in Columbus, Ohio. Directly comparable to C3i as a CDMO serving academic and biotech cell/gene therapy sponsors with GMP manufacturing and quality release testing.
• Vibalogics: Vibalogics is a virotherapy CDMO specializing in viral vector manufacturing (AAV, lentivirus, oncolytic viruses) for gene therapy and vaccine developers. Comparable to C3i's expanding viral vector manufacturing capability and its broader gene therapy CDMO service offering.

Others

• ExCellThera: ExCellThera is a Montreal-based clinical-stage cell therapy company developing UM171-based stem cell expansion technology for blood cancers. Listed as a C3i customer and partner in cell therapy commercialization, providing thematically related adjacency in the Canadian cell therapy ecosystem rather than direct CDMO competition.

Regional players

• Neopharm Labs: Neopharm Labs is a Canadian GMP-compliant contract analytical and manufacturing services provider serving pharma and biotech with laboratory testing and small-batch manufacturing. Comparable as a Canadian-based CDMO/contract lab ecosystem participant, though focused on analytical testing rather than cell therapy manufacturing like C3i.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c3icenter

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C3i