History

Clean Cells was born in 2000 out of the combined efforts of three scientists who had recently been awarded by the Aventis – Institut de France Foundation. Their goal was to offer a range of safety tests intended for biopharmaceuticals while taking advantage of a favourable national and international markets. Since its infancy, Clean Cells undertakes a quality approach and, in 2002, the company earns an ISO 9001 certification for the testing activities. Traceability is central to Clean Cells’ operations which are inspected by the French regulatory authorities (ANSM) in 2004 : the company is then effectively provided with a GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) license. The company expands rapidly, backed by four business angels and local investors. Clean Cells opens new manufacturing units in 2014 and earns a “pharmaceutical establishment” certification, a prerequisite in French law to start manufacturing operations.

In a few years time, Clean Cells gains prominence and secures a firm position on the French market. In 2008, the board of directors thus naturally decide to target the global market through prospection and recruitment of a dedicated sales team, who starts building partnerships, first in Europe, quickly followed by the US and Asia.

Today, Clean Cells offers an extensive range of services including safety testing of biopharmaceuticals, cell and virus banking in GMP setting and secured storage of GMP and non-GMP material. Clean Cells aims at playing a key part in the development of innovative therapies and in the emergence of personalized (or precision) medicine.

In 2018, Clean Cells joins the Clean Biologics group, an entity born out of the original founders of Clean Cells. Lyon-based investor ArchiMed joins and supports Clean Biologics as part of its Medtech/Biotech specialty.

Clean Biologics soon integrates new companie: Naobios. The two companies offer an integrated portfolio of services in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practises (cGMPs) and intended for the global biopharmaceutical industry.

• Naobios: based in Nantes (France), the highly-qualified team at Naobios offers clincial-grade viral vaccine and vector, and oncolytic virus manufacturing up to clinical Phase 3.

Through 50 years of cumulated experience and common human values, solutions provided by Clean Cells & Naobios play an essential role in the development of tomorrow’s medicine and secure Clean Biologics’ position as a world-renowned group.

Opened in January 2023, the new building enables Clean Cells to quadruple its analysis and production capacities. Designed with sustainability in mind, the new premises offer a beautiful working environment for all staff, with state-of-the-art equipment.