Terumo BCT and FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific have begun collaborations to assist the acceleration of T-cell expansion.
By utilising Fujifilm's PRIME XV T-cell Expansion Media on Terumo's Quantum Flex Cell Expansion System, the companies hope to optimise T-cell production workflows.
Through the incorporation of these two technologies, the companies will offer a ready-to-use process that combats the common challenges associated with T-cell expansion — including the scaling of such processes and meeting regulatory requirements.
Overcoming cell therapy hurdles
Biopharmaceutical developers in the cell therapy space are often confronted with a range of challenges when developing methods for T-cell expansion.
A significant factor is the time and money investments that this requires, as well as process development, which is highly resource-heavy.
According to the pair, Terumo BCT's protocols and Fujifilm's commercially avaialble GMP-compliant media can reduce these challenges — helping early-stage cell therapy developers to expedite the approval of their therapeutic.
Fujifilm PRIME-XV T cell media has a Drug Master File (DMF) as an added level of convenience to help expedite approval for the therapeutic treatment.
“We’re optimistic about the impact this collaboration will have on the industry by advancing process standardization and reducing risks in therapy development through integrated, proven solutions,” said Veerle d’Haenens, General Manager of Global Therapy Innovations at Terumo BCT.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to addressing challenges directly and providing tools that bring cell therapies closer to patients.”
“At FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, we value our partners, such as Terumo BCT, and working towards a shared vision to improve workflow for cell therapy developers,” said CEO and Chair of FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Yutaka Yamaguchi.
“With T cells playing such a vital role in many new cell-based therapies, we designed our Fujifilm PRIME-XV T cell media to deliver consistent, high-quality T cell production. Collaborations like this offer a tremendous opportunity to address such a critical industry need — enabling faster, more efficient cell therapies for patients. Together, we can make an impact to accelerate their development.”