Mammalian plant a convenient option for growing Asian client base, says AGC

Mammalian-plant-a-convenient-option-for-growing-Asian-client-base-says-AGC.jpg
(Image: Getty/metamorworks) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

AGC Biologics has announced plans to build a mammalian cell culture facility in Japan, where the company says demand is growing for antibody-based therapies.

The current good manufacturing practice (cGMP)-compliant site will be added to AGC’s Chiba plant near Japan’s east coast. Operations are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2019.

According to the contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), the site will help serve a growing customer base in Asia.

“We have observed growing interest and demand from Japanese biopharmaceutical companies,” confirmed spokesperson Bob Broeze, adding that the facility will serve as a “a convenient option for the manufacture of protein therapeutics for Asian companies, as well as US and EU companies that seek production in Asia.”

Broeze did not disclose the cost of the facility, nor which vendor will supply its equipment.

AGC Biologics – born out of the integration of Asahi Glass Company (AGC) Bioscience, Biomeva GmbH, and CMC Biologics – has made a number of recent investments across its network.

In March this year, the firm announced plans to build new headquarters in Washington, US, and in August, released details regarding a manufacturing capacity expansion at a facility in Copenhagen, Denmark.