Pharma Equipment Companies Deploy Innovative Strategies to Capture the Cell Therapy Market

　　【Pharmaceutical Network Industry Dynamics】Recently, Tofflon and Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., Ltd. has rich experience in cell therapy drug development, and Tofflon's expertise is to provide process equipment and matching consumables required in the cell therapy process. Through this cooperation, Chongqing Precision will accelerate the R&D process of its existing production line, reduce costs and increase efficiency more effectively, and achieve the goal of domestic substitution faster.
 

Racing to Enter the Cell Therapy Track, Pharmaceutical Equipment Companies Employ Various "Strategies" (Image Source: PharmaNet)
 

Cell therapy is a treatment method that uses living cells from patients or donors to replace damaged or diseased cells, or to stimulate the body's immune response or regeneration. It is characterized by rapid technological iteration and enormous innovation potential. The clinical translation of cell therapy has been incorporated into China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. Supported by favorable policies, increased investment, and an influx of talent, the market size for cell therapy is expected to expand continuously in the future. Data predicts that by 2025, the global cell and gene therapy market will reach 30.54 billion USD, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 71% from 2020 to 2025, far exceeding the 4.4% growth rate of the global pharmaceutical market during the same period. Among this, China’s cell and gene therapy market will reach 2.59 billion USD, with a CAGR of 276% from 2020 to 2025, indicating highly promising prospects.
 

To seize the cell therapy track, major pharmaceutical companies at home and abroad have already entered the field. Statistics show that as of June 1, 2022, there were 2,756 cell therapy pipelines under research globally, increasing by 39.8% compared to 2021. In addition, companies in and outside China are accelerating the layout of CAR-T therapy, with the frequency of transactions between enterprises gradually rising. According to relevant data statistics, from 2012 to January 2023, there were a total of 173 CAR-T related transactions, with cumulative upfront payments of $1.92 billion and total transaction amounts exceeding $30 billion.
 

Not only pharmaceutical companies, but also their upstream pharmaceutical equipment enterprises have come up with "various strategies." Among them, Tofflon, which has reached cooperation with Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., Ltd. this time, once stated that it can currently provide comprehensive solutions for the preparation and production of immune cells, stem cells, tumor cell vaccines, etc., achieving one-stop services from cell sorting, amplification, collection to filling, and storage.
 

On February 3 this year, Tailin Biotechnology announced that the company plans to sign the "Capital Contribution Agreement" with Wang Huan, Yan Xiangqing, Wang Yanhong, Yu Xiao, and Li Xiao to establish a joint venture, Beijing Multi-Cell Technology Co., Ltd. (tentative), to engage in cell technology-related businesses. The registered capital of the joint venture is proposed to be RMB 20 million, of which Tailin Biotechnology will contribute RMB 11 million, accounting for 55% of the registered capital.
 

For example, in the first half of 2022, Truking Technology established a controlling subsidiary, Truking Siweikang, which focuses on the research and development, production, and sales of fully automated equipment for cell therapy drug manufacturing. It has also largely completed the entire industrial chain layout, ranging from biopharmaceutical upstream bulk preparation equipment to gene and cell therapy drug production equipment.
 

On July 1, it was reported that Chutian Siweikang released for the first time its self-developed automated cell drug preparation system—comprising three main devices: the intelligent cell centrifugation system, intelligent cell magnetic separation system, and intelligent cell culture factory. These form an integrated solution for the automated preparation of cell drugs, providing equipment solutions for the entire process from research and development to production of cell drugs.
 

In the industry's view, as the cell therapy industry chain continues to improve, it will better help users effectively reduce production costs, shorten the cycle from product development to commercialization, promote the advancement of China's cell and gene therapy industry, and boost the progress of humanity's cancer-fighting efforts.
 

Disclaimer: In no event shall the information or opinions expressed in this article constitute investment advice to any person.