New startup AuctuCel uses AI to slash cell medicine manufacturing costs
AuctuCel founders, Zach Pang (left) and Chee Wai Fhu (right)
By harnessing technology to optimise how cells are grown, AuctuCel is able to production costs and timelines for cell therapies, potentially making treatments more accessible and affordable.
Singapore-based biotechnology start-up AuctuCel has officially launched with a system that uses technology to make cell medicine manufacturing more efficient, reducing time and money spent from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing. The start-up is a spin-off of Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI).
AuctuCel’s flagship platform, Fluxperior, uses both computer modelling with artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the precise mix of nutrients that cells need to thrive in the lab. Typically, cells are grown in mediums, and the ideal composition for each type of cell is typically determined through trial-and-error. This can take more than six months of costly testing. According to AuctuCel, Fluxperior can reduce development costs by up to 80%, shorten timelines by up to 83%, and boost cell productivity by more than 20%.
This has major implications for cell-based therapies. Stem cells and other manufactured cell types form the foundation for a wide range of treatments, including transplants for blood-related conditions such as anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, and certain inherited immune disorders.
By making the production of manufactured cells more efficient, it may also aid research into other applications of cell treatments. For example, stem cell therapy is being explored for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s. On a lighter note, they have also been used for anti-aging treatments at wellness and aesthetic clinics.
AuctuCel was founded by two researchers: Dr Chee Wai Fhu, who previously worked at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, and Dr Zach Pang, a former group leader at A*STAR BTI. Both bring extensive biomedical research experience to the venture. Their motivation stemmed in part from frustrations in the lab, where they often struggled to keep cells alive for their research and experiements.
Pang, co-founder and chief scientific advisor, reflected: “This started as my personal frustration in the lab. Today, we’re solving it for the entire biotech industry.”
AuctuCel has already attracted international attention and early-stage investment. The company secured a six-figure pre-seed investment from a culture media manufacturer, alongside S$50,000 in support from Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG programme. It projects profitability by the end of 2025.
“We’re setting a new standard for precision in cell nutrition. This saves time in the lab and speeds up biotech innovation,” said Chee, co-founder and chief executive of AuctuCel.
With demand for advanced cell therapies continuing to grow globally, AuctuCel’s launch strengthens Singapore’s position as a hub for biomedical innovation and demonstrates how technologies like AI can be used for addressing individual challenges and to address larger issues in the healthcare system.
Source: The Peak Singapore - New startup AuctuCel uses AI to slash cell medicine manufacturing costs
