USP launched new standards aimed at viral vectors and plasmid DNA to improve quality and consistency for cell and gene therapy manufacturing. The guidance covers best practices for raw materials and introduces empty‑full ratio standards for AAV manufacturing—measures USP developed in collaboration with NIST and NIIMBL. Separately, Bracco Imaging and Limula partnered with University of Fribourg’s Nicola Vannini to test lipid‑based microbubbles and automated buoyancy‑based cell selection as alternatives to magnetic beads for T‑cell selection and activation. The Swiss public–private project, funded by Innosuisse, aims to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost for cell therapies. Together, the standards and the R&D partnership signal a coordinated industry push to improve manufacturability, reproducibility and cost structure for advanced therapies—critical steps for broader clinical access.