Cellares, a cell therapy manufacturer, has partnered with Mitsui Fudosan, a major Japanese real estate developer and one of the core companies of the Mitsui Group, to establish Japan’s first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) Smart Factory in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.
This state-of-the-art facility aims to revolutionize the production of CAR-T and other cell therapies, enhancing accessibility and reducing costs for patients in Japan and neighboring regions.
The Kashiwa facility, strategically located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of central Tokyo, is set to employ 350 individuals and serve as a hub for scalable, cost-effective cell therapy manufacturing, as per the company. By leveraging Cellares’ advanced technologies—Cell Shuttle for manufacturing and Cell Q for quality control—the factory will automate processes that traditionally rely on manual labor, thereby increasing efficiency and consistency.
Cellares’ new facility in Kashiwa City will enable our pharma clients to supply Japan from Japan. Manufacturing cell therapies locally simplifies cold chain logistics, accelerates vein-to-vein time and reduces cost,” said Fabian Gerlinghaus, CEO and co-founder of Cellares.
The US-based company noted that the technology reduces batch prices by up to 50% and eliminates the manufacturing bottlenecks faced by conventional Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) that use manual processes. Moreover, the fully automated processes will facilitate seamless technology transfers between Cellares’ global facilities, enabling rapid scalability and deployment of therapies across different markets.
Dr. Toshihiko Doi, Chairperson of the Kashiwa-no-ha Life Science Committee, emphasized the facility’s significance: “For cancer patients in Japan, the establishment of this facility provides access to cutting-edge therapies that can make a critical difference in their fight against diseases. It marks a significant step toward eliminating the drug delivery lag time that has been a challenge for rare disease and oncology treatments.”
This initiative aligns with Cellares’ broader strategy to be a global manufacturing partner, meeting the total patient demand for cell therapies worldwide. The Kashiwa Smart Factory represents a pivotal advancement in bringing life-saving treatments closer to patients, ensuring timely access and fostering innovation in the field of cell therapy.
