AGC Biologics expands cell therapy development hub at Yokohama
- Launched cell therapy process development at the AGC Yokohama Technical Center in July 2025.
- Awarded multiple projects from academic institutions and biotech companies, including exosome‑ and T cell‑based programs.
- One project transfers a customer program from the Milan site to Yokohama for future development and manufacturing in Japan.
- Supporting Institute of Science Tokyo's third‑party virus‑specific T cell therapy for refractory adenovirus after hematopoietic cell transplantation via process and analytical method development.
Yokohama site and service launch
AGC Biologics launched cell therapy process development services at the AGC Yokohama Technical Center in July 2025 and is positioning the site as a new development and manufacturing hub in Japan. Since the launch, the site has been awarded multiple projects from academic institutions and biotechnology companies domestically and overseas, covering modalities such as exosome‑ and T cell‑based programs.
Global coordination and Milan collaboration
The company is building Yokohama capabilities through technical collaboration and personnel exchanges with its Milan site, which has experience in development and commercial manufacturing of cell and gene therapies. One customer program is being transferred from the Milan site to Yokohama, where future development and manufacturing activities will be conducted in Japan.
Clinical translation support
At Yokohama, AGC Biologics is supporting an Institute of Science Tokyo program to advance third‑party virus‑specific T cell therapy for refractory adenovirus infections after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Support comprises process development and analytical method development to facilitate future clinical and manufacturing implementation.
Regulatory and project track record
Per the company note, AGC Biologics S.p.A. (Italy) has six commercial manufacturing approvals in the gene and cell therapy field and held the top CDMO share by number of ex vivo gene therapy contract projects as of Sep 2026.
Source: AGC