Hitachi have made new strides in their push to become world leaders in regenerative and cell therapies by making a move into Europe. On Thursday, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd. announced its intention to purchase cell and gene therapy product manufacturer apceth Biopharma GmbH for €75.5 million.
The Japanese firm will pick up two facilities in Munich, Germany, totalling around 500 m² of cleanroom space. The strength of apceth lies in its experience and comprehensive quality management systems which allow the manufacturing and development of a range of complex gene and cell therapy products. Hitachi said that both manufacturing facilities meet EU regulations and the company already has standing business with both EU and US clients. The deal is set to be completed in April.
apceth biopharma
Germany CDMO Apceth Biopharma has won the contract to produce Bluebird Bio’s recently EU-approved Zynteglo. Image: apceth
“The addition of apceth Biopharma to Hitachi Chemical will strengthen our presence in the second-largest cell and gene therapy market in the world, and enable us to offer a truly harmonised global operation, providing our customers with ready access to new markets and maximising the value we bring to the industry,” said Robert A. Preti, PhD, CEO and President of Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, LLC and General Manager of the Hitachi Chemical Regenerative Medicine Business Sector.
“We are very pleased to become part of Hitachi Chemical. Our combined strengths within Hitachi Chemical will allow us to manufacture complex cell and gene therapies for clients in North America, Asia, and Europe. This will allow us to supply patients around the world with highly needed innovative and high-quality cell and gene therapies,” said Christine Guenther, MD, CEO of apceth Biopharma.
“Since 2007, apceth had been built by a great team and strong support of its shareholders into Europe’s leading independent cell therapy manufacturer. We are very proud that these joint efforts resulted in apceth Biopharma now being chosen as Hitachi Chemical’s hub for cell therapy in Europe,” commented Manfred Ruediger, PhD, Chairman of the Board of apceth GmbH & Co.KG.
In 2016, Hitachi made its first move into cell manufacturing when it paid $19.4 million for a near 20% stake in PCT, a subsidiary company of Caladrius Biosciences, in the US. The deal gave Hitachi a licence to use PCT’s cell therapy technology in certain Asian countries, including Japan, as well as access to two manufacturing facilities in the US.
Last autumn, Hitachi and GlaxoSmithKline signed a deal to manufacture GSK’s SPEAR T-cell receptor therapy targeting NY-ESO-1 for trials in Europe and North America.
Back to Homepage
Back to Chemicals & Biochemicals