KUBio is a modular facility by GE Healthcare that was initially launched in 2012 for the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and was later expanded to support production of vaccines and viral vectors.
The facility is already adopted by several companies including JHL, Pfizer, and BeiGene.
In collaboration with Pharmadule Morimatsu, GE Healthcare is now in the process of installing a KUBio facility in Guangzhou, China, which is expected to “accelerate the accessibility of biotherapeutics on a global scale.”
Under the collaboration, Pharmadule Morimatsu, which focuses on the design of modular facilities, will provide engineering design, construction, installation, and validation services, based on the platform’s proprietary design.
The company announced that it plans to have more modular facilities available for clients in 2020.
Michelle Stafford, GE Healthcare’s senior global product marketing leader, told us that the expansion supports the company’s plans to “address the needs of a large patient population, as well as the speed and quality” required in Asia, due to a rising market growth in the region – especially regarding the manufacture of biosimilars, mAbs and cell therapies.
Asked about interest shown in the expanded KUBio from clients, Joe Makowiecki, director of business development and enterprise solutions, replied: “We have had multiple customer conversations around not only the KUBio facility for BSL-1, but also the KUBio facility for BSL-2 and KUBio facility for Cell Therapy (CAR-T).”
