GE Healthcare provides services such as medical imaging, monitoring, biomanufacturing, and cell and gene therapy technologies to the life science industry.
This project marks the first-ever application of FlexFactory for cell immunotherapy drugs based on high-affinity and high-specificity T cell receptors (TCR). Xiangxue Pharmaceutical (XPH) will aim to deliver breakthrough cancer treatments with new-generation TCR T-cell therapy.
Cell therapy is recognised as one of the most promising models for comprehensive and precise cancer treatment. But the manufacturing process is complex and it is a challenge for companies to produce cell therapies at an industrial scale. Thus, FlexFactory for cell therapy was developed to help companies achieve stable, safe and scalable manufacturing of cell therapy products.
The platform will help shorten the commercialisation cycle through accelerated translation from scientific research, to clinical trials, to industrial-scale production. GE Healthcare will also provide XPH with training services, process development, flexible cell processing equipment and digital connectivity solutions.
Yonghui Wang, Chairman of XPH, said: "As a new breakthrough in cancer treatment, the importance of cell immunotherapy has gained consensus by the global medical industry, offering great hope for humans to combat cancer. As we continue development in precision medicine, we look forward to long-term collaboration with GE Healthcare, using digital and semi-automated technologies as well as comprehensive analytical methods, to help us more efficiently produce treatments for patients.”
With a high concentration of healthcare companies and medical resources, Guangzhou is currently implementing the IAB Plan to advance development in information technology, AI and biotechnology industries.
GE Healthcare and XPH are committed to creating a world-leading cell therapy manufacturing platform in the Guangzhou Development Zone. Thus, this close strategic partnership helps establish a new world-leading bioindustry ecosystem in Guangzhou.
The FlexFactory platform is expected to be operational in March 2019.