AGC Inc. (Head Office: Tokyo; President: Yoshinori Hirai) , the parent company of AGC Biologics, will launch new process development (PD) services for cell therapy products at its Yokohama Technical Center (Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama) starting this July. By transferring advanced technologies from AGC Biologics’ Milan site^*1, a world-leading CDMO^*2 with a proven track record in gene and cell therapies, AGC has established capabilities to support a wide range of cell types, including T cells, NK cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. The launch of PD services precedes the start of services at a new CDMO facility to be established in Yokohama in 2026. By 2027, the Company plans^*3 to offer full development and manufacturing services, including commercial production of mammalian-based protein biologics, cell therapies, and messenger RNA.

Cell therapies, a focus of regenerative medicine and cancer immunotherapy, are undergoing rapid global development and are expected to see significant market growth in the coming years. However, because these therapies involve working with living cells and tissues, the manufacturing process is highly complex, and there are currently only a limited number of CDMOs with a track record of commercial production. As the market grows, there is an increasing need for reliable CDMOs that can provide consistent support from research and development to commercialization in order to accelerate the practical application of new drugs.

Due to the nature of cell therapies, strict temperature control and rapid transportation are essential, making the geographical location of CDMO facilities a critical factor. To address this, AGC is establishing development and manufacturing capabilities not only in Europe and the U.S., but now also in Japan, aiming to deliver services to a broader range of customers and regions.

AGC Group’s Life Sciences Business aims to contribute to the realization of a society in which people can live safely, securely, comfortably and healthily, in other words, to improving “well-being”, by providing CDMO services for the development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Going forward, the AGC Group will continue to deliver globally consistent, high-quality services that meet the diverse needs of our customers, maximizing synergies across its network and creating value for pharmaceutical companies, patients, and society.

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The AGC Group's CDMO business sites and supported modalities