Cellular Biomedicine Group (CBMG) and GE Healthcare Life Sciences China have collaborated to co-develop certain industrial control processes in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) and stem-cell manufacturing.

As part of the partnership, the companies will establish a joint laboratory within CBMG’s new Shanghai Zhangjiang GMP-facility and dedicate it to the joint research and development of a functionally integrated, as well as automated immunotherapy cell preparation system.

The automated CAR-T and stem-cell manufacturing capabilities are set to build upon the accreditation of GMP facilities of CBMG in Shanghai, Wuxi and Beijing.

CBMG CEO Tony Liu said: "Our team of scientists has spent years refining our manufacturing process to become one of the very few cell therapy companies with fully in-house integrated chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) processes for clinical grade CAR-T cells, plasmid and viral vectors bank production.

"We understand that one of the impending barriers to adoption of immuno-oncology and stem cell therapies is the logistics in manufacturing and we look to take an expanded role both domestically and potentially globally."

The co-development activity is aimed at standardising the delivery of cell manufacturing to potentially improve throughput and alleviate cost burdens.

Under the partnership, CBMG’s scientific expertise in the manufacturing of CAR-T and stem-cell production in China will be combined with GE Healthcare’s experience in the design and development of new manufacturing technologies.

Together with an expanded Wuxi, and Beijing GMP-facilities, CBMG’s new Zhangjiang facility will have a combined 70,000ft² for development and production.

GE Healthcare Life Sciences Greater China general manager Li Qing said: "Cell therapy as an industry continues to refine and evolve in China, with vast potential to change the ways various diseases are treated.

"GE continues investing in technologies and services aimed at the thriving cell therapy industry, with a firm commitment of making these promising therapies accessible through successful industrialisation."