Yokogawa and Tokyo Electron to develop a stem cell quality management system
A manufacturing control system is needed to control cell quality during cultivation
Yokogawa is to join the Smart Cell Processing project, a joint undertaking of industrial, administrative and academic organisations in Japan and the UK. Yokogawa will work with the project leader, Tokyo Electron, to develop a total quality management system for the automated production of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine.
Tokyo Electron has established the Stem Cell Technology Centre (STC) in the UK and is working with 15 partners to establish and standardise smart cell processing technologies to cultivate and inspect clinical quality stem cells. As such, a manufacturing control system is required that can control cell quality during the cultivation process. Yokogawa will develop the solution, which will also function as a manufacturing execution system (MES) and a plant information management system (PIMS).
Based on CIMVisionPharms, a pharmaceutical manufacturing control package, and CellBrain, an online semiconductor production controller, the system will meet the specific requirements of stem cell production. To develop this management system, Yokogawa will make use of fully automatic cell culture and inspection apparatus that Tokyo Electron plans to install at the STC.
In line with the dramatic progress that is being achieved in induced pluripotent stem cell and embryonic stem cell research, regenerative medicine is expected to become a true game changer in the medical field.
For the benefits of regenerative medicine to become widely available, progress must be achieved in the development of smart cell processing technologies and the establishment of stem cell production facilities. Yokogawa plans to capitalise on this joint development opportunity with Tokyo Electron to expand its business in these fields.