Asahi Kasei Unveils Planova FG1: Redefining Viral Filtration Standards with Technological Innovation to Strengthen Biopharmaceutical Safety

During the 2025 China International Import Expo (CIIE), Asahi Kasei, a global leader in viral removal filters, once again became the focal point of the New Materials exhibition area. As an international giant that has consistently led technological advancements in the industry since launching its first PLANOVA virus-removing filter in 1989, Asahi Kasei unveiled its flagship new product, Planova FG1, at this year’s CIIE, drawing widespread attention from the industry.

VCBeat had the privilege of engaging in an in-depth dialogue with Shang Mengxian, General Manager of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess. The discussion centered on core topics such as product technology innovation, industry development trends, and the company’s China strategy, decoding the technological commitment and innovation logic of this multinational corporation.

In the production of biologics, viral removal is a critical step to ensure medication safety, and balancing filtration efficiency with flux has always been a core challenge for the industry. Asahi Kasei’s newly launched Planova FG1 is a breakthrough solution specifically designed to address this pain point.

Regarding the original intent behind the product’s development, Mr. Shang stated: “Since the launch of the first PLANOVA product, Asahi Kasei has consistently built its product portfolio with a customer-centric approach. Higher biosafety and production efficiency are shared pursuits among global customers, and the development of Planova FG1 was precisely aimed at achieving this core objective.”

Compared to its predecessor, Planova Bioex, Planova FG1 achieves a dual leap in both high throughput and viral clearance efficiency, with the key to this breakthrough lying in the innovation of its core material.

According to Mr. Shang, Planova FG1 departs from the material choices of traditional products by employing a novel polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. Leveraging the unique properties of PES, this design significantly enhances filtration flux while ensuring consistent virus removal capability under varying conditions. This technological innovation in materials not only shortens the production cycle for biologics but also reduces manufacturing costs, thereby providing robust support for the scaled-up production capabilities of pharmaceutical companies.

Addressing the industry-wide pain point of “insufficient long-term performance data” for virus removal filters, Asahi Kasei offers rigorous solutions. Mr. Shang emphasized that all Planova product series undergo multiple stringent tests and validations before official market launch, with the FG1 being no exception. The relevant test results can be reviewed in formal validation reports.

More importantly, adhering to its philosophy of “Assurance Beyond Expectation,” Asahi Kasei provides customers with end-to-end technical support ranging from laboratory-scale development to scaled-up production, with its professional technical team offering comprehensive guidance throughout the process. For Chinese customers, the company has established a robust support system, continuously strengthening customer trust through the ongoing accumulation of real-world application data.

Amid the accelerated development of the global biopharmaceutical industry, the virus removal filter sector is entering a new phase of growth. Mr. Shang’s analysis points out that viral filtration has become a standard and essential step in the manufacturing processes of biological products worldwide. The rapid expansion of China’s biopharmaceutical market is particularly noteworthy; it is poised to become an indispensable core force in the global biopharmaceutical landscape, thereby creating substantial growth opportunities for the virus removal filter market.

In response to the varying regulatory requirements across different regions, Asahi Kasei has established a robust compliance framework. Mr. Shang introduced that Asahi Kasei maintains close academic exchanges with regulatory authorities and leading industry customers worldwide. At the annual Planova Workshop, the company specifically curates regulatory-themed seminars, providing customers with a professional platform to understand regional regulatory trends and requirements. This model of deep engagement in regulatory communications not only ensures that Planova FG1 addresses diverse regulatory requirements during its R&D and validation phases, but also enables Asahi Kasei to provide timely and effective support to customers in adapting to regulatory updates.

Supply chain stability has been a focal point for global manufacturing in recent years, and the virus removal filter sector is no exception. Mr. Shang stated that Asahi Kasei fully recognizes the importance of supply chain stability and is continuously expanding its production capacity based on forecasts of future market demand. Meanwhile, the company is committed to building a stable local supply system in China, mitigating potential risks through daily unwavering efforts to ensure consistent supply to customers. Regarding the question of whether production bases will be established in different regions, Mr. Shang indicated that many initiatives are currently under preparation, but specific details cannot be disclosed at this time.

As Chinese domestic companies accelerate their entry into the virus removal filtration sector, industry competition is intensifying, drawing significant attention to topics such as import substitution and centralized procurement.

Faced with the current market environment, Mr. Shang has demonstrated strong confidence, which stems from Asahi Kasei’s decades of technological accumulation and experience. “Since launching our first Planova virus-removing filter in 1989, we have served numerous clients in the biopharmaceutical and blood product sectors both domestically and internationally. Throughout this process, we have amassed extensive project experience, continuously enhanced our professional capabilities and performance strength, and earned high recognition from global customers for the stability of our product quality.” Mr. Shang emphasized that, leveraging these core advantages, Asahi Kasei is able to consistently provide innovative solutions to Chinese customers, maintaining its international leadership while effectively addressing market competition.

Discussing the strategic plan for the next three to five years, Mr. Shang elaborated on multiple dimensions, including technology, market, and services. On the technological front, Asahi Kasei will uphold its core technical advantages and continuously refine its product portfolio to address the new challenges facing the biopharmaceutical industry in the new era. In terms of market and services, the company will further enhance service quality to meet increasingly diverse customer needs. Meanwhile, by leveraging an industry exchange platform established by the enterprise, it will integrate superior resources and serve Chinese customers from a multi-dimensional perspective, thereby deepening its presence in the Chinese market. “Our ultimate goal has always been to help customers develop biologics that offer both higher biosafety and production efficiency, contributing to the healthy development of the global biopharmaceutical industry,” said Mr. Shang.

As a benchmark enterprise in the global field of viral filters for biopharmaceutical processing, Asahi Kasei’s introduction of the Planova FG1 not only demonstrates its technological innovation capabilities but also underscores its commitment to deepening its presence in the Chinese market. In China’s rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry, Asahi Kasei leverages its technical expertise, high-quality products, and comprehensive services to demonstrate its confidence and determination in continuously advancing industry development, thereby providing more reliable assurance for the safe production of biologics in China.