According to the company, the site is part of its growth strategy to create more high-quality pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services in the Asia region that can help meet the global demand for biologics and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).
The new facility, expected to be operational in 2026, will offer pre-clinical through commercial services for mammalian-based protein biologics, cell therapies, and messenger RNA (mRNA).
In addition, the site will house multiple 2,000 L single-use bioreactors and several 4,000 L or larger reactors for mammalian cell culture services, making it one of Japan’s largest sites for mammalian-based manufacturing capacity once complete.
“With an increased demand in this region for high-quality partners that have a history of clinical and commercial biopharmaceutical manufacturing, we are making this investment to offer developers the services they need, and strengthen our global CDMO network,” said Patricio Massera, CEO of AGC Biologics.
“The new Yokohama facility will be a central location for innovators in Japan and across the Asia Pacific, offering scientific expertise, technical flexibility and needed services to support development and manufacturing at every critical stage.”
The facility was approved by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of its initiative to develop biopharmaceutical manufacturing sites to strengthen vaccine production in the region.
The total investment for the AGC Biologics Yokohama site is expected to be approximately 50 billion Japanese yen ($350,500,000) and once fully operational it will employ 400 people.