Symcel receives CEPI grant to accelerate vaccine sterility testing

Stockholm, Sweden, 2025-10-22 - Symcel has been awarded funding of up to US $197,280 from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop a rapid sterility testing method for vaccines using the calScreener+™ biocalorimetry platform.

Sterility testing is one of the most time-consuming steps in vaccine release, often taking 14 days or more to confirm that each batch is free from microbial contamination. Symcel’s microcalorimetry-based technology measures heat produced by microbial metabolism with very high sensitivity, enabling growth-based contamination detection in as little as three days.

Innovating to reduce time-to-release for vaccines worldwide
By dramatically shortening sterility testing timelines, this innovation can help accelerate vaccine release, reduce manufacturing costs, and strengthen global access to safe, high-quality vaccines.

The CEPI-funded project aligns with CEPI’s 100 Days Mission to speed up vaccine development and delivery in response to emerging infectious diseases. It is the second project awarded under CEPI’s Call for Proposals to advance new analytical technologies that ensure quality, safety, scalability, and accessibility in vaccine manufacturing.

Collaboration opportunity for vaccine developers
We’re inviting vaccine companies to participate in our CEPI-supported study developing rapid, microcalorimetry-based sterility testing. Participants will gain early access to an emerging technology that can accelerate and safeguard vaccine release testing.

For more information, please contact Marta Veses Garcia, Project Manager: Marta.Veses.Garcia@symcel.com

About CEPI
CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organisations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 70 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI’s pandemic-beating plan is the ‘100 Days Mission’ to accelerate the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.  Learn more at CEPI.net.

Media contact: press@CEPI.net  
 

About Symcel
With Symcel is leading a new era in metabolic measurements for use in R&D, rapid diagnostics and improved therapies. The calScreener™ is at the forefront of biocalorimetry, offering a novel method for detecting and analyzing biological activity using isothermal microcalorimetry. The technology enables direct measurements of sterility, cell behavior and drug responses. Symcel was founded by leading authorities in microcalorimetry and the team at Symcel has extensive experience within the diagnostics and life science industries. Learn more at Symcel.com

Media contact:
Per Lidén, Marketing Manager
per.liden@symcel.com