News
News from Japan
Launches, plant investments and partnerships announced in Japanese, reported in English with the context a reader outside Japan needs. Each item lists its sources, and items first reported in our Japanese edition link to the original.
Cell therapy · CellFiber launches Zeito cell fiber systems in Japan and the USUniversity of Tokyo spinout CellFiber began selling Zeito Plus, a GMP-ready cell encapsulation system, and the benchtop Zeito Lite in Japan and the US.
Organoids · Mitsui Chemicals launches InnoCell P-Type plate for adherent cellsMitsui Chemicals' InnoCell P-Type pairs an oxygen-permeable plate material with a cell-attachment surface to make organoids and tissue models more uniform.
Cell therapy · Hitachi High-Tech launches iACE3 automated cell culture systemHitachi High-Tech's iACE3 succeeds iACE2 with a 42% smaller footprint and remote monitoring of up to 6 units from outside the cleanroom.
Downstream processing · JNC unveils Cellufine MLP resins for large particles at BPI EastJNC's Cellufine MLP beads use large pores for AAV and vaccines. In-house data: 13-fold flu virus concentration with 90.3% less protein impurity.
CDMO · AGC Biologics adds two 5,000 L DynaDrive bioreactors to Yokohama siteAGC Biologics' ¥50 billion Yokohama plant gets two 5,000 L Thermo Scientific DynaDrive and four 2,000 L Cytiva units, adding 18,000 L. GMP starts in 2027.
ADC · Fujifilm and Taiho partner on ADC manufacturing technologyTaiho and Fujifilm will develop manufacturing processes for ADCs built on Taiho's AraLinQ. Fujifilm plans Japan's first end-to-end ADC service in 2027.
Oligonucleotides · Hodogaya Chemical forms NuChord to enter nucleic acid CDMO businessOLED materials maker Hodogaya Chemical set up NuChord, capitalized at ¥200 million, to make GMP nucleic acid drug substance at its Koriyama Plant.
ADC · Daiichi Sankyo doses first patient with CD25-directed ADC DS1025Daiichi Sankyo's DS1025 uses DXd technology to deplete regulatory T cells in tumors. The phase 1 trial will enroll up to 45 patients in Asia and Europe.
Biosimilars · Alfresa and three partners form biosimilar CDMO Alfenax BiologicsAlfresa, Taiwan's Mycenax, Kidswell Bio and Chiome are forming Alfenax Biologics, a ¥900 million biosimilar CDMO backed by an MHLW facility subsidy.
Viral clearance · Asahi Kasei unveils benchtop VANTIJ SU-VFC virus filtration systemAsahi Kasei Bioprocess's VANTIJ SU-VFC Benchtop automates single-use virus filtration with 0.12 and 0.3 m² Planova 35N filters, aimed at gene therapy.
Analytical instruments · Shimadzu launches combustion IC system to screen total PFAS by AOFShimadzu's combustion ion chromatograph system links automatic sample combustion to ion chromatography to screen total organic fluorine by the AOF method.
Cold chain · PHC updates VIP SMART and Frostless -85°C ultra-low freezersPHC refreshed its natural-refrigerant -85°C freezers. VIP SMART holds power use to 5.4 kWh a day with dual-circuit inverters; Frostless cuts door frost.
Diagnostics · ARKRAY launches Rapidchip BNP-II whole-blood BNP test in JapanARKRAY's Rapidchip BNP-II measures BNP, a heart failure marker, from 120 µL of whole blood or plasma in about 10 minutes, with no centrifugation step.
Analytical instruments · Hitachi High-Tech launches UH9000 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometersHitachi High-Tech's UH9000 series for solid samples merges multi-condition runs into one scan; the UH9200 adds an InGaAs detector for dark samples.
Analytical instruments · Shimadzu introduces GCMS-TQ RX triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS seriesShimadzu's GCMS-TQ RX triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS series is built for routine labs and runs on helium, hydrogen or nitrogen, with helium-saving functions.
Analytical services · JFE Techno-Research starts 3D X-ray microscope analysis serviceJFE Techno-Research offers contract analysis on Sigray's ApexHybrid-210: 0.40 µm resolution in CT mode and uncut samples up to 300 mm wide by laminography.
Cell therapy · Kohjin Bio plans GMP culture media plant in Nagasaki, opening 2030Kohjin Bio signed a siting deal with Nagasaki Prefecture and Omura City for a GMP plant making regenerative medicine media, about 2 years behind plan.
iPSC · Panasonic automates iPS cell establishment with CiRA FoundationPanasonic Holdings says its device established iPS cells from patients' blood cells fully automatically, a step done by skilled hands. Trials run in Osaka.
Cell therapy · JR Central and Gaudi Clinical ship cells by Shinkansen parcel serviceSince August 17, 2026, regenerative medicine cells ride the Tokaido Shinkansen parcel service, extending Gaudi Clinical's supply area to Nagoya and Osaka.
Analytical instruments · Shimadzu Nexera X4 UHPLC: low dispersion, up to 92% shorter runsShimadzu says the Nexera X4 cuts analysis time by up to 92% against a typical HPLC through a low-dispersion design and its own solvent delivery control.
Biomarkers · Tokai Denshi launches VolaTrap handheld breath VOC samplerTokai Denshi's VolaTrap collects breath VOCs onto two standard sorbent tubes at once, with 10 volume settings from 0.5 to 5.0 L, ready for TD-GC-MS.
Analytical instruments · HORIBA sets up first Middle East base and buys UAE distributor FANDAHORIBA formed HORIBA Middle East in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City and agreed to buy the business of FANDA, its UAE distributor, to sell and service directly.
Cell therapy · Cellafa Bioscience builds robot-and-AI cell manufacturing platformCellafa Bioscience, set up by YASKAWA Electric and Astellas, uses humanoid robots and AI to cut the cost of making regenerative medicine products.
Cell therapy · Tiger and Gaudi Clinical develop vacuum-insulated cell transport podTiger Corporation and Gaudi Clinical's Vacuum-Insulated Cell Pod held 20°C for 24 hours and 5°C for 11.5 hours, so cells can travel by train or hand carry.
Nucleic acids · Nagoya team uses silver nanoparticles to make longer DNA sticky endsResearchers in Japan cut DNA with silver nanoparticles to make longer sticky ends, joining fragments up to 5 times as efficiently as the usual method.