Multiply Labs raises $75M to automate pharmaceutical manufacturing with robotics

Multiply Labs Inc., a startup developing robotics clusters for pharmaceutical manufacturing, has raised $75 million in a Series B funding round led by medical researcher Patrick Soon-Shiong. The funding will expand production capacity and support for cell and gene therapies, addressing scalability and cost challenges in the industry.

Funding and Investors

Multiply Labs Inc., a startup specializing in automation equipment for pharmaceutical manufacturing, has raised $75 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by medical researcher and entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong, with participation from AstraZeneca plc, Teradyne Inc., and Universal Robotics Inc., among other backers, according to SiliconANGLE.

Technology and Automation Approach

Multiply Labs develops robotics clusters designed to automate pharmaceutical manufacturing workflows. These clusters consist of specialized enclosures containing manufacturing equipment, such as robotic arms sourced from Universal Robotics Inc. The robotic arms are lightweight, equipped with tactile sensors to measure pressure on vials, and mounted on a rail system that allows them to move between material processing machines.

The robots can perform tasks such as stirring vials, mixing ingredients, and transferring materials between production systems. An artificial intelligence model manages these processes, trained on data from pharmaceutical customers.

The company’s technology is currently focused on cell and gene therapy production, an area where manual processes dominate. Multiply Labs claims its automation can increase manufacturing throughput by a factor of 100 while reducing the cost per dose by 74%.

Regulatory and Industry Challenges

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is heavily regulated, and any changes to production workflows typically require regulatory approval. Multiply Labs addresses this challenge by designing its robotics clusters to imitate manual workflows, which may simplify the approval process for drugmakers.

The company’s focus on cell and gene therapies aligns with industry trends, as these treatments often face scalability and cost challenges. Automation could help address these issues by standardizing production and reducing human error.

Use of Funds

Multiply Labs plans to use the $75 million funding to expand its production capacity and extend support to additional types of therapies. The goal is to scale its automation solutions to meet growing demand in the pharmaceutical industry.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators in biotech and pharma, Multiply Labs’ funding round signals a validation of automation as a critical lever for scalability. The headline numbers—100x throughput and 74% cost reductions—are eye-catching, but the real story is how the company is navigating the intersection of robotics, AI, and regulatory compliance.

This deal also underscores the growing role of strategic investors like AstraZeneca. For startups in niche but high-impact areas like cell and gene therapy, partnering with established players may be just as important as raising capital. The challenge, however, is balancing the speed of innovation with the slower pace of regulatory approvals. Multiply Labs’ approach of mimicking manual workflows is a pragmatic workaround, but it’s not a silver bullet. Founders in regulated industries should take note: technology is only part of the equation; domain expertise and patience are just as critical.

Key takeaways

• Multiply Labs raised $75 million in a Series B round led by Patrick Soon-Shiong, with participation from AstraZeneca and Teradyne.
• The company’s robotics clusters automate pharmaceutical manufacturing, focusing on cell and gene therapies.
• Multiply Labs claims its technology can increase throughput by 100x and reduce costs by 74%.
• Funds will be used to expand production capacity and support for additional therapy types.
• Regulatory compliance remains a key challenge, addressed by mimicking manual workflows.
• Strategic investors like AstraZeneca may accelerate adoption but also introduce complex partnership dynamics.

FAQ

What does Multiply Labs do?

Multiply Labs develops robotics clusters that automate pharmaceutical manufacturing, particularly for cell and gene therapies. The technology aims to increase throughput and reduce costs by replacing manual workflows with AI-driven robotic systems.

Who led the $75 million funding round for Multiply Labs?

The Series B funding round was led by medical researcher Patrick Soon-Shiong, with additional participation from AstraZeneca plc, Teradyne Inc., and Universal Robotics Inc.

How does Multiply Labs’ technology address regulatory challenges?

Multiply Labs designs its robotics clusters to imitate manual workflows, which may simplify the regulatory approval process for drugmakers by minimizing deviations from established processes.

What will Multiply Labs use the funding for?

The company plans to expand its production capacity and extend its automation solutions to support additional types of therapies.

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