News Release

Collaboration aims to streamline manufacturing of genetically enhanced tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapies using the Quantum Flex system

Lakewood, Colo., October 5, 2026 — Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a medical technology company advancing blood- and cell-based therapies worldwide, has entered a research collaboration with TrAMPoline Pharma and Eduardo Davila, PhD, at the University of Colorado to develop an automated manufacturing approach for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies targeting solid tumors. The automated approach is intended to support manufacturing of TrAMPoline Pharma’s lead therapeutic candidate, MightyTIL, as the company scales up for clinical trials.

Because TILs are derived from immune cells that have already infiltrated the tumor microenvironment, they are being explored as a promising approach for solid tumors, an area where traditional CAR-T therapies have faced biological and manufacturing challenges.

TIL starting material is a complex mixture of disaggregated tissue that may contain few T cells that may not expand as readily as T cells found in circulation. TIL therapies also require significantly higher numbers of expanded T cells to achieve a therapeutic dose.

As a result, TIL therapy developers have been working to improve this expensive and heavily manual cell expansion stage.¹

By automating key processes on Terumo BCT’s Quantum Flex^™ Cell Expansion System, the partners aim to improve consistency, reduce labor requirements and reagent consumption and support clinical-scale production of genetically modified TILs for solid tumor therapies.

“Dr. Davila’s advanced work to improve T cell infiltration in solid tumors laid the groundwork for TrAMPoline Pharma’s TIL therapy programs, making him an ideal partner to establish the automated manufacturing processes that could support the development and future scale-up of these therapies,” said Mindy Miller, head of scientific development and engagement at Terumo BCT. “We remain eager to work with leading investigators to develop the protocols that enable clinical and commercial scalability for novel cell-based therapies. Patients desperately need these new approaches to move from great ideas to life-changing treatments, and we’re dedicated to making that happen.”

“Our goal is to develop a manufacturing approach that preserves the biological potential of these therapies while making production more practical for broader clinical evaluation,” said Eduardo Davila, director of immunotherapy, medical oncology at the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Combining our TIL expertise with Terumo BCT's automation technology creates an exciting opportunity to advance the development of therapies for patients with solid tumors. We look forward to publishing the results that will support our work and move the field forward.”

1. Tovar Manzano D, Subhi-Issa N, Pereiro-Rodríguez A, et al. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expansion protocols for adoptive cell therapy in cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2025;48(6):1659-1675. doi:10.1007/s13402-025-01112-2

Products and services are available in selected areas subject to regulatory approval in each country.

Quantum Flex™ is either a registered trademark or trademark of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/Trademarks for details.

MightyTIL is either a registered trademark or trademark of TrAMPoline Pharma, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

About Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT) is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to help treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers.

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies' customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 160 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending.

We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A., along with four regional headquarters, eight manufacturing sites and seven research and development centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology.

About TrAMPoline Pharma
TrAMPoline Pharma is a cellular immunotherapy company developing personalized (autologous) therapies for solid tumors. Its lead therapeutic candidate, MightyTIL, is a genetically engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy being investigated for the treatment of melanoma and select orphan solid tumor indications, including sarcoma and head and neck cancers. TrAMPoline was founded to advance next-generation cell therapies designed to address the significant unmet needs of patients with solid tumors. For more information, visit trampolinepharma.com.

About the Davila Lab
The Davila Lab at the University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center focuses on advancing T cell-based immunotherapies for cancer. The lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive effective and durable tumor-specific T cell responses, with the goal of developing new approaches to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and fight cancer. Its research spans tumor immunology, cellular therapy, and translational strategies to improve outcomes for patients with solid tumors. For more information, visit davila research lab