• Rapid Micro Biosystems

  Participated · Series C · Apr 2015

  Rapid Micro Biosystems develops the Growth Direct® platform, a growth-based, fully automated system for microbial detection in pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccine, and cell & gene therapy manufacturing. The system is designed to improve data integrity, regulatory compliance, and the efficiency of global QC processes by detecting contamination more quickly than traditional methods. A majority of the global top-20 pharmaceutical companies use the Growth Direct® System, and the company reports accelerating adoption as manufacturers expand drug and vaccine production. Rapid Micro Biosystems positions its technology to reduce errors, decrease risk of contamination events and product recalls, and maximize manufacturing capacity. The company is headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, with global locations in Germany and the Netherlands. Recent fundraising supports continued global expansion and commercialization of its automated QC platform across biopharma and advanced therapy manufacturing. Rapid Micro Biosystems develops the Growth Direct™ platform, a fully automated, growth-based system that automates the majority of standard microbial QC tests and delivers results in roughly half the time of manual methods. The platform is used by a majority of the top 20 biopharma companies and supports biologics, sterile injectables, cell and gene therapies, and vaccine manufacturing. Growth Direct reduces human handling, enables remote monitoring and data reporting, and is positioned to help manufacturers meet stricter regulatory and capacity demands. The company has its global headquarters and U.S. manufacturing in Lowell, Massachusetts, and additional global locations in Germany and the Netherlands. Rapid Micro Biosystems completed a $120 million financing to support commercial expansion, global supply chain and manufacturing capability, and product development. Among planned developments is a rapid sterility test being advanced through a partnership with BARDA to shorten final product release timelines. Rapid Micro Biosystems is a Lowell, MA-based provider of automated, growth-based rapid microbial detection technology for the healthcare product manufacturing sector. Led by CEO Robert Spignesi, the company develops the Growth Direct™ system, a growth-based platform that automates traditional microbial testing to detect contamination and improve quality control. Its products target manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, biologics, biotechnology products, medical devices, and personal care products. The company secured $60M in equity financing to support its operations. Rapid Micro intends to use the funds to accelerate global commercial expansion, expand operational capability, and drive product innovation. Rapid Micro Biosystems develops the Growth Direct™ System, an automated, non-destructive rapid detection and enumeration technology for microbial quality control in pharmaceutical and related manufacturing. The system accelerates detection and enumeration for sterility testing, environmental monitoring, and bioburden testing while eliminating manual steps and analysis. Growth Direct uses the natural autofluorescence of microbes, requires no reagents, and is stated to be the first automated technology addressing all microbial quality control applications while fitting current regulatory practices. The technology is in use by some of the largest organizations in the world. The company plans to use new investment to expand global commercial and manufacturing operations, with a strategic focus on growing commercial and operational capabilities in Asia, specifically Singapore. Management cites the expansion as supporting broader adoption of the Growth Direct system in pharmaceutical and medical technology plants across the region. Rapid Micro Biosystems delivers the Growth Direct System, an automated, non-destructive rapid detection and enumeration technology for microbial quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing and related industries. The system automates sterility testing, environmental monitoring, and bioburden testing, using microbes' natural autofluorescence and requiring no reagents; the detection technology was first developed and patented by Dr. Don Straus, Ph.D. Growth Direct is used by some of the largest companies in the industry and is designed to fit with current regulatory practices to accelerate adoption. In July 2015 the company closed $19 million in senior credit facilities — a $16 million term loan with Solar Capital and a $3 million revolving credit facility with Comerica Bank — to provide working capital. Management said the financing provides additional flexibility to invest in new opportunities and to accelerate global commercialization and expansion of the technology.

No current team members are available.