Financial Modeling:
Cell Therapy
Optimising Infrastructure Strategy for Point-of-Care Cell Therapy Production
Sarem Consulting enabled a life sciences client to make a critical infrastructure decision in the gene and cell therapy space by translating technical complexity into a clear financial and operational strategy. Facing uncertainty around the optimal production setup for personalised, point-of-care therapies, we conducted a data-driven evaluation of alternative systems. This included direct supplier input and a structured comparison of integrated (fully automated) and modular (semi-automated) approaches, supported by detailed CapEx and OpEx modelling covering equipment, cleanroom infrastructure, personnel, and key consumables such as viral vectors.
Driving Investment Efficiency Through Advanced Financial Modeling and Risk Analysis
Within a focused engagement, Sarem Consulting delivered a comprehensive financial framework to guide capital allocation and minimise downside risk for our client. We modelled ROI, cash break-even, and net cash flow across six equipment configurations, identifying high-efficiency setups with strong return potential. Stress testing under adverse scenarios—such as increased production error rates—provided clear visibility into operational resilience. The result was a strategic roadmap that optimised initial investment decisions while ensuring long-term adaptability of the production infrastructure. This enabled our client to enter the cell therapy ecosystem with a cost-efficient, scalable, and risk-mitigated operating model.
Key takeaways:
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Enabled precise selection of optimal production infrastructure through data-driven equipment comparison
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Delivered full financial visibility across CapEx, OpEx, ROI, and cash flow scenarios
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Identified high-efficiency configurations with strong return potential above market benchmarks
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Reduced operational risk through rigorous stress testing of production and cost variables
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Optimised capital allocation between modular and integrated production approaches
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Established a scalable, future-ready roadmap for point-of-care cell therapy manufacturing
Project Scope
Our client, seeking to enter the gene and cell therapy market, engaged Sarem Consulting to define production capacity for an advanced therapeutic product based on personalised treatment. The project focused on developing comprehensive cost analyses and financial feasibility models to support localisation through point-of-care production.
Key outputs included:
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Collection of technical and commercial data through direct engagement with global device line suppliers
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Comparative, battlecard-style analysis of alternative production systems (integrated/fully automated vs modular/semi-automated) based on CapEx and OpEx
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Modelling of key financial metrics, including ROI, cash break-even, and annual net cash flow
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Application of financial stress tests to assess risks such as production error rates and operational cost increases
Problem
High Investment Costs and Technical Infrastructure Uncertainty
Gene and cell therapies, which are transforming immunotherapy, involve patient-specific, time-sensitive, and highly complex biological processes, unlike traditional drug manufacturing. The key challenge for our client was to identify a technological infrastructure that ensured clinical safety while remaining financially sustainable within a decentralised production model.
Available equipment options—some costing millions of euros—vary significantly in operational efficiency, staffing requirements, and consumable costs. In addition, the high cost of viral vectors and complexities around patent licensing introduced further uncertainty, impacting overall project profitability.
Solution
Data-Driven Equipment Comparison and Financial Modeling
Sarem Consulting conducted the following strategic analyses for our client through in-depth, NDA-backed engagement with technology suppliers:
Modular vs integrated systems: Compared fully automated systems’ labour efficiencies with the flexibility and lower upfront costs of modular approaches
CapEx/OpEx analysis: Combined capital costs (production and QC equipment, cleanroom infrastructure) with operating expenses (personnel, viral vectors, consumables) into detailed financial models
Financial performance modelling: Assessed net cash flow and payback periods across six equipment configurations, identifying high-efficiency options with strong ROI potential
Strategic roadmap: Developed a three-phase implementation plan to guide project execution
Impact
Optimised Investment Decision and Reduced Operational Risk
The Cost Analysis Report delivered at the end of the project created clear, tangible value for our client’s investment strategy:
Financial clarity: Optimised capital allocation by clearly distinguishing between low-CapEx modular systems and high-CapEx traditional setups
Risk management: Stress testing identified configurations capable of sustaining cash flow even with production error rates of up to 25%
Future readiness: Assessment of adaptability to emerging cellular therapy protocols extended operational lifespan and long-term commercial returns
As a result, our client minimised financial risk and defined the most operationally efficient equipment strategy for entry into the high-tech cell therapy ecosystem.