MaxCyte Announces Strategic Platform License Agreement with Moonlight Bio to Advance T Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors

Rhea-AI Summary

MaxCyte (Nasdaq: MXCT) signed a Strategic Platform License (SPL) with Moonlight Bio on Oct 6, 2025 to support development and scalable manufacturing of Moonlight's engineered T cell therapies for solid tumors. Moonlight gains non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights to MaxCyte's Flow Electroporation® technology and ExPERT™ platform. MaxCyte will receive annual licensing fees and program-related revenue while Moonlight will use GMP-ready electroporation and regulatory support to build clinical manufacturing processes.

Positive

• Signed SPL with Moonlight Bio on Oct 6, 2025
• Non-exclusive research, clinical, commercial rights to Flow Electroporation and ExPERT platform
• MaxCyte entitled to annual licensing fees and program-related revenue
• GMP-ready ExPERT platform supports scalable clinical/commercial manufacturing

Negative

• None.

Insights

Cell therapy partnerships analyst

MaxCyte licensed its Flow Electroporation® and ExPERT™ platform to Moonlight Bio to support scalable T cell therapy development and will receive licensing fees and program revenue.

MaxCyte grants non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights to its Flow Electroporation® technology and ExPERT™ platform to Moonlight Bio, a preclinical company focused on T cell therapies for solid tumors. The agreement creates a supplier-customer linkage where Moonlight uses GMP-ready electroporation tools for gene delivery and MaxCyte gains recurring revenue via annual licensing fees and program-related payments.

Dependencies and risks include Moonlight advancing candidates into clinical stages and establishing a validated manufacturing process built around the licensed platform. Regulatory-compliant manufacturing capability and successful translation from preclinical to clinical work will determine whether the partnership yields material program revenue. Monitor progress toward clinical filings, scale-up milestones for GMP manufacturing, and any disclosed program-specific payments or timelines in the next 12–24 months.

MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation® Technology will support efficient gene delivery to advance Moonlight Bio’s engineered T cell therapies

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MaxCyte, Inc. (Nasdaq: MXCT), a leading cell-engineering company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development, and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics, today announced the signing of a Strategic Platform License (SPL) agreement with Moonlight Bio, a preclinical-stage biotechnology company based in Seattle, Washington.

Moonlight Bio will deploy MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation^® technology and ExPERT™ platform to support the scalable development and manufacturing of its T cell therapy pipeline.

“We’re proud to partner with Moonlight Bio as they advance their gene-edited cell therapies through clinical development,” said Maher Masoud, President and CEO of MaxCyte. “Our globally supported, GMP-ready and regulatory-proven ExPERT™ platform is built to accelerate clinical and commercial manufacturing and enable robust, scalable cell engineering. We’re excited to support Moonlight Bio’s innovative approach to optimizing gene-editing outcomes and advancing next-generation T cell therapies.”

“We look forward to collaborating with MaxCyte and leveraging their proven, GMP-compliant electroporation technology along with their deep scientific and regulatory expertise to build our clinical manufacturing process,” said Jordan Jarjour, Chief Scientific Officer of Moonlight Bio. “At Moonlight Bio, we are committed to delivering T cell therapies that overcome the barriers to success in solid tumors, which account for the majority of the global cancer burden.”

Under the SPL, Moonlight Bio obtains non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation^® technology and ExPERT™ platform. In return, MaxCyte is entitled to receive annual licensing fees and program-related revenue.

About MaxCyte
At MaxCyte^®, we are committed to building better cells together. As a leading cell-engineering company, we are driving the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell therapies. Our best-in-class Flow Electroporation^® technology and SeQure™ gene editing risk assessment services enable precise, efficient and scalable cell engineering. Supported by expert scientific, technical and regulatory guidance, our platform empowers researchers from around the world to engineer diverse cell types and payloads, accelerating the development of safe and effective treatments for human health. For more than 25 years, we’ve been advancing cell engineering, shaping the future of medicine. Learn more at maxcyte.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

About Moonlight Bio
Moonlight Bio, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company based in Seattle, WA aiming to develop potency enhanced T cell therapies that provide new hope for patients suffering from cancer. Moonlight’s core technologies were illuminated by nature itself and are designed to confront the disappointing reality that therapies for solid tumors are simply not potent enough to generate the deep and durable responses that patients urgently need. To learn more, connect with Moonlight Bio on LinkedIn and visit us at moonlightbio.us.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements. Specifically, there is no assurance that MaxCyte will receive additional program-related revenue or other revenue under this SPL.

Risks and uncertainties related to our business are described in greater detail in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 11, 2025, as well as in discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in the other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2025. These documents are available through the Investor Menu, Financials section, under “SEC Filings” on the Investors page of our website at http://investors.maxcyte.com. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our current beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject based on information available to us as of the date of such press release, and you should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

MaxCyte Contacts:

Investor Relations
Gilmartin Group
David Deuchler, CFA
+1 415-937-5400
ir@maxcyte.com  

Media Contact
Oak Street Communications
Kristen White
+1 415-608-6060
kristen@oakstreetcommunications.com

Moonlight Bio Contacts:
info@moonlightbio.us

FAQ

What did MaxCyte announce about Moonlight Bio on Oct 6, 2025 (MXCT)?

MaxCyte announced a Strategic Platform License allowing Moonlight to use Flow Electroporation and ExPERT for T cell therapy development.

What rights does Moonlight Bio receive under the MaxCyte SPL (MXCT)?

Moonlight obtains non-exclusive research, clinical, and commercial rights to MaxCyte's Flow Electroporation and ExPERT platform.

How will MaxCyte (MXCT) benefit financially from the Moonlight agreement?

MaxCyte is entitled to annual licensing fees plus program-related revenue from the SPL.

Will Moonlight Bio use GMP-compliant manufacturing with MaxCyte technology?

Yes—Moonlight will leverage MaxCyte's GMP-ready electroporation technology and regulatory support for clinical manufacturing.

What therapies will the MaxCyte–Moonlight deal target?

The collaboration targets development of engineered T cell therapies for solid tumors.