New center brings local cell culture media optimization support for vaccines, advanced therapies, and biotherapeutic drug development

FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Inc., a world leader in the development and manufacture of serum-free and chemically defined cell culture media for bioproduction and cell therapy manufacturing, has announced the establishment of an Innovation and Collaboration Center in Suzhou New District, China. Through this new center, experts will collaborate with customers to design upstream cell culture processes that meet their biomanufacturing needs.

In the past decade, the world has seen rapid growth in China’s biopharmaceutical, vaccine, cell and gene therapy markets. The speed of approval of biosimilar drugs and investment by the government to make more affordable drugs available to its people is accelerating that growth. Accordingly, the market for cell culture media in China has been expanding, and it is currently expected to grow at an annual rate of about 20%*. Researchers and drug manufacturers require high-performing, safe, and reliable bioprocesses to drive down the cost of therapeutics.

The Innovation and Collaboration Center will incorporate advanced cell culture automation and analysis into process and media development to enable highly accurate evaluation and identification of optimal upstream cell culture processes. Furthermore, it will provide the local resources and expertise for optimized cell culture media and associated workflows, to achieve the quantity and product quality attributes necessary to support commercial production of new drugs.

Yutaka Yamaguchi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, General Manager Fujifilm Life Sciences Business Division, commented:“Through our proven media development expertise FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific support some of the most important global biologics commercially available today, including COVID-19 vaccines and therapies. We will continue to expand services globally to provide easier access for customers to collaborate with our scientists and bioprocessing experts, and benefit from rapid development and delivery of high-quality cell culture products and solutions.” He added: “We are increasing the number of sales and technical support staff throughout China to meet the development needs and support the antibody pharmaceutical industry in the growing Chinese market.”

The new center in Suzhou will join the network of optimization services offered from FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific’s facilities in the USA and Japan. Construction has begun and is planned for completion by March, 2022.

* Globaldata; Bioplan Associates “Cell Culture Media Market and Trends,” June 2020; BCC Reports

About FUJIFILM

FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific

FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Inc., is a worldwide leader in the innovation and manufacture of cell culture media, reagents, and medical devices for researchers and clinicians. The company provides unrivaled service and quality to scientists working in biopharmaceuticals, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine, assisted reproductive technology and cytogenetics, and industrial cell culture for the large-scale production of biotherapeutics and vaccines. FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific adheres to both ISO and FDA regulations and operates dual cGMP manufacturing facilities in California, USA, and Tokyo, Japan. The company’s consultative philosophy combined with expertise in cell culture and compliance provides customers with unique capabilities and support. For over 50 years, FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific has remained uniquely flexible and focused on media while becoming a strategic global leader in media products and services.

FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Inc. is a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation reporting to FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings cutting edge solutions to a broad range of global industries by leveraging its depth of knowledge and fundamental technologies developed in its relentless pursuit of innovation. Its proprietary core technologies contribute to the various fields including healthcare, highly functional materials, document solutions and imaging products. These products and services are based on its extensive portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic and imaging technologies. For the year ended March 31, 2021, the company had global revenues of $21 billion, at an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar. Fujifilm is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship.