Charles River Expands Apollo™ Ecosystem, Offering Bespoke Client Experiences

Rhea-AI Summary

Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) announced the launch of Apollo™ for CRADL®, a secure cloud-based platform enhancing their vivarium rental services. The platform streamlines research initiation by providing a centralized dashboard connecting clients to online training, research models ordering, and study support services.

Apollo serves as the technology stack driving Charles River's digital transformation, offering expanded client access across their portfolio through multiple integrations:

• Apollo for CRADL: Streamlines administrative tasks for vivarium rental solutions
• Apollo for Safety Assessment: Provides real-time access to data visualization and program planning
• Apollo for Biologics: Centralizes sample submission and tracking
• Apollo for Discovery: Enables instant oncology study price estimates
• Apollo for Logica®: Delivers real-time updates for AI-powered small molecule programs
• Research Models Online Ordering System: Offers interactive catalog with real-time inventory

Positive

• Launch of new digital platform streamlining operations and improving service accessibility
• Integration across multiple service lines enhancing operational efficiency
• Real-time access to data and services potentially accelerating drug development timeline
• Digital transformation initiative improving client experience and operational processes

Negative

• None.

Insights

Technology Analyst

The launch of Apollo™ for CRADL® represents an incremental technological advancement rather than a transformative development for Charles River Laboratories. While the platform streamlines administrative processes and improves client access to services, its immediate financial impact appears The platform primarily digitizes existing services without introducing new revenue streams.

The integration across multiple service lines - Safety Assessment, Biologics, Discovery and Logica® - demonstrates a cohesive digital strategy, but the operational efficiencies gained will likely take several quarters to materialize in the company's financial performance. For investors, this represents a necessary modernization effort to remain competitive rather than a catalyst for significant revenue growth.

In simpler terms: Think of this as Charles River upgrading from paper forms to a digital system - it's helpful for day-to-day operations but won't drastically change their business overnight. It's like a restaurant moving from paper ordering to tablets - it makes things smoother but doesn't necessarily bring in more customers immediately.

Market Research Analyst

This digital transformation initiative aligns with broader industry trends toward laboratory digitization and automation, but falls into the category of 'table stakes' rather than competitive advantage. The $9.7B market cap company is essentially playing catch-up with industry expectations for digital capabilities.

The real value proposition lies in the potential for data analytics and operational efficiency gains across Charles River's diverse service portfolio. However, the announcement lacks specific metrics or targets for cost savings or productivity improvements. The platform's ability to accelerate research timelines could potentially improve client retention and satisfaction, but this remains speculative without concrete performance indicators.

For the average person: Imagine a gym chain finally launching an app to book classes and manage memberships - it's expected in today's world and helps retain members, but it's not going to dramatically increase membership numbers or justify higher prices.

Launch of Apollo™ for CRADL® provides a secure cloud-based platform to enhance access to services and visibility across teams and processes

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) today announced the launch of Apollo™ for CRADL®, a secure cloud-based platform that enhances leading vivarium rental services through a digital platform that connects clients effortlessly with the training, tools and services needed to start research quickly. As a digital companion to CRADL’s existing rental space offering, Apollo's centralized dashboard seamlessly connects clients to online training, Charles River’s Research Models Online Ordering System, and other study support services.

“Apollo is the tech stack that is powering Charles River’s digital transformation,” said Mark Mintz, Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Charles River. “A high impact, iteratively expanded platform that gives clients greater access to data, products and services, across our portfolio, Apollo enables data-driven decision making and accelerated operational processes that creates value for our client’s businesses and drives efficiencies in drug discovery and development.”

For CRADL clients, who are looking for simplified capability to launch or expand drug discovery and development programs, Apollo for CRADL streamlines onboarding, making the process of starting research faster and easier within CRADL. Additionally, it provides clients with direct control of reservations for technical services, rooms, and equipment while facilitating protocol management and IACUC committee communication to expedite research execution. Apollo for CRADL is the latest in a series of innovations, integrating the Apollo technology stack across Charles River’s robust portfolio:

• Apollo for CRADL: Streamlines much of the required administrative tasks associated with CRADL’s flexible vivarium rental solutions, allowing clients to focus on starting their programs faster, and enabling them to spend more time on their research.
• Apollo for Safety Assessment: Expedites safety assessment empowering clients with real-time access to data visualization, milestones, documents, and program planning tools.
• Apollo for Biologics: Provides a centralized platform to submit sample submission forms, track samples, and exchange documents all in one place, ensuring accuracy and saving time.
• Apollo for Discovery: Delivers instant access to oncology study price estimates, unlocking a new world of speed and accessibility, while providing access to oncology experts for study purchasing, enhanced planning and budget approvals.
• Apollo for Logica®: Allows flexibility and agility for clients in measuring success by delivering secure, near real-time updates for Logica® AI powered small molecule programs.
• Research Models Online Ordering System: Delivers an interactive catalog seamlessly connected to pricing systems and real-time inventory to view availability linked to delivery schedules, providing clients with a personalized purchasing experience and immediate order confirmation.

Charles River is continuously expanding the scope of Apollo to enhance client experience and drive increased efficiencies for client studies at every stage of discovery and development.

About CRADL®
CRADL®, the Charles River Accelerator and Development Lab, is the leading space for clients to launch or expand their in vivo drug research programs, with the added benefit of access to Charles River’s complete portfolio of integrated drug discovery and non-clinical development resources. The CRADL vivarium network operates nearly 30 facilities, in key biohubs, including Boston, San Francisco Bay, San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago, Thousand Oaks, Shanghai, Chengdu, Suzhou, and London. This network supports the growth of the entire biotech ecosystem in each city, allowing researchers to rapidly progress their science while maintaining the flexibility to expand, relocate or co-locate, knowing they will have reliable, high-quality in vivo facilities nearby.

About Charles River
Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Our dedicated employees are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, early-stage development and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250121865847/en/

Investor Contact:

Todd Spencer,

Corporate Vice President, Investor Relations

781.222.6455

todd.spencer@crl.com

Media Contact:

Amy Cianciaruso

Corporate Vice President & Chief Communications Officer

+1-781-222-6168

amy.cianciaruso@crl.com

Source: Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Charles River's new Apollo for CRADL platform (CRL)?

Apollo for CRADL is a secure cloud-based platform designed to enhance vivarium rental services by providing centralized access to training, tools, and services, enabling faster research initiation for clients.

How many different Apollo platform integrations does Charles River (CRL) currently offer?

Charles River currently offers six Apollo integrations: Apollo for CRADL, Safety Assessment, Biologics, Discovery, Logica, and the Research Models Online Ordering System.

What features does Apollo for Safety Assessment (CRL) provide to clients?

Apollo for Safety Assessment provides clients with real-time access to data visualization, milestones, documents, and program planning tools to expedite safety assessment processes.

How does Apollo for Discovery benefit Charles River's (CRL) oncology clients?

Apollo for Discovery provides instant access to oncology study price estimates, faster study purchasing, enhanced planning, and budget approvals, while connecting clients with oncology experts.