Tokyo, Japan, March 28, 2023 --- Teijin Limited, TFBS Bioscience Inc. and Mediridge Co., Ltd. announced today that they have agreed to supply viral vectors and plasmids for cell and gene-therapy products that are used to develop and manufacture regenerative medicines involving gene transfer. Viral vectors, which are viruses that retain their cell-entry mechanisms but not their original proliferative and toxic functions, are used to introduce a foreign gene of interest into a cell to express targeted functions. Plasmids are circular DNA found in bacteria and other microscopic organisms. Since they replicate independently of chromosomal DNA, they are used as vectors or carriers that integrate target genes and express genes with targeted functions in cells.
Aiming to contribute to the provision of innovative medical treatments, Teijin, TFBS Bioscience and Mediridge will collaborate in the design and development of regenerative medicines, formulation of business plans, and the manufacture investigational drugs and commercial products including viral vectors. They aim to contribute to the advancement of regenerative medicines by providing customers with one-stop services based on regenerative-medicine platform located in Kashiwanoha Smart City, a life science business park near Tokyo. Also, TFBS will expand its business development and customer services in Japan through technology development in Kashiwanoha Smart City.
Teijin's contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business focused on regenerative medicines includes product design incorporating the know-how of its group company Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. (J-TEC) and a one-stop R&D system established with the National Cancer Center Japan and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. in Kashiwanoha Smart City. Meanwhile, know-how on gene transfer and viral vector supply chains are necessary for manufacturing and process development of products for gene cell therapy such as chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy.
TFBS is a biotechnology company that has spun off in October 2016 from the Development Center for Biotechnology, a government-sponsored research institute in Taiwan. TFBS provides CDMO service for viral vectors in compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements. TFBS also provides a one-stop-shop good laboratory practice (GLP) testing service to support cell and gene therapy product development, including assay development, animal safety study, and clinical sample analysis.
Mediridge is a biotechnology company engaged in studies and consulting related to the development and manufacturing of gene cell therapy and biopharmaceuticals. Mediridge owns a facility for manufacturing plasmids and also is the distribution agent for TFBS in Japan.
The alliance will enable Teijin’s regenerative-medicine CDMO business to receive plasmids from Mediridge and viral vectors from TFBS. Since the number of viral vector suppliers in Japan is limited, this will allow Teijin to stably provide raw materials to enterprises and academic institutions from initial R&D to commercial production.
Mediridge and TFBS will expand their viral vector business in Japan by receiving customer referrals from Teijin. In addition, Teijin will provide consultation services in cooperation with Mediridge to meet demands for gene transfer and viral vector development.
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TFBS viral vector manufacturing facility in Taipei, Taiwan |
Kashiwanoha Regenerative Medicine Platform (Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwanoha 1) |
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan's first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions”, Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises some 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 926.1 billion (USD 7.2 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,207.6 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2022.
Please visit www.teijin.com
Press Contact
Investor and Public Relations Department
Teijin Limited
+81 3 3506 4055
About Mediridge Co., Ltd,
MedRidge is providing one-stop services from research and development (R&D) to biopharmaceutical manufacturing (GMP) and safety testing (GLP) for researchers and physicians engaged in biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine, based on the pillars of conventional basic biotechnology. Since our establishment in February 2009, we have been providing services to pharmaceutical companies and university researchers with management including consulting. In January 2020, we launched an investigational drug manufacturing facility for plasmid DNA in Uruma City, Okinawa, which is in increasing need as gene therapy and gene cell therapy progress. We will continue to provide services based on the concept of "Walking with you primarily for better medical care and healthier lives."
Contacts
+81 3 6661 0041
About TFBS Bioscience
TFBS Bioscience Inc. was founded in 2016 as the first Contract Research Organization (CRO) providing biological testing in Taiwan. Our technical team's roots run deeper, going back to the virus research laboratory founded in 2009 at the Development Center of Biotechnology (DCB), a government-sponsored research institute in Taiwan. TFBS has established good reputation and track records in several regulatory submissions, winning trust from the international regulatory agencies and biopharmaceutical industry. TFBS has launched the first viral vectors Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) facility in Taiwan, providing fully integrated end-to-end contract development and manufacturing services for the needs of clinical trials. Nowadays, with our manufacturing expertise and state-of-the-art facility, we are determined to be the best partner offering clients a one-stop-shop solution for gene and cell therapy. For more information, please visit www.tfbsbio.com/.
Contacts
Head office: 3F., No.103, Ln. 169, Kangning St., Xizhi District
New Taipei City Taiwan (R.O.C)
Tel: 886-2-26947888