FUJIFILM Invests $188 Million in New Cell Culture Media Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina

Fujifilm Corporation (represented by Teiichi Goto, Representative Director, President and CEO) announced a $188 million investment to establish a cell culture media production facility in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, USA. The new facility will be operated by Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Corporation and a high-tech company that develops and provides advanced cell culture solutions for life science research, bioproduction, cell and gene therapy, and medical applications. The new plant aims to enable Fujifilm Irvine Scientific to help meet the growing market demand for high-quality cell culture media solutions.

FujiFilm Irvine Scientific has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, with demand for cell culture media supporting bioproduction and advanced therapies projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10–12% by 2031*. To meet customer needs, the company has made the strategic decision to expand its production capacity by building facilities in biotechnology hubs around the world. This strategy ensures a stable supply chain and rapid, reliable product delivery by developing an extensive regional supply network, which is critical for supporting cell and gene therapies.

The regional supply network shares FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific’s unified quality system and raw material planning, enabling the company to rapidly adapt to natural disasters or unforeseen issues, maintain continuous operations, and deliver products to customers worldwide.

Kenichi Goto, Representative Director, President and CEO of Fujifilm Corporation, stated: “Fujifilm’s substantial investments in the life sciences sector underscore our commitment to being a trusted partner for customers in the biopharmaceutical industry. As we enhance the capacity of our global cell culture media production facilities, we will continue to contribute to robust manufacturing processes and the development of innovative therapies, helping to create a healthier world.”

Yutaka Yamaguchi, Chairman and CEO of Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, stated: “Our customers require rapid and reliable delivery of cell culture media to support their commercial manufacturing. Cell culture media produced at our new facility in North Carolina will help ensure a stable supply of raw materials for biologics, cell and gene therapies, and other critical medicines essential to human health. The additional production capacity will enable us to meet the anticipated global demand for cell culture media from our customers.”

Land development and construction are scheduled to begin in spring 2023, with the plant commencing operations in 2025.

Fujifilm Irvine Scientific is a high-tech company that innovates and manufactures cell culture solutions for the life sciences and healthcare markets, providing products and services that help our customers advance their healthcare initiatives. The company serves drug discovery, cell and gene therapy, reproductive medicine and cytogenetics, as well as large-scale production of biotherapeutics and vaccines, earning the trust of researchers, manufacturers, and clinicians. For over 50 years, our mission has been to set rigorous quality standards for our products and customized solutions, enabling our customers to advance their healthcare projects. Our facilities comply with ISO and FDA regulations, adhere to cGMP guidelines in the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, and operate a media optimization center in China. To achieve sustainable growth, all manufacturing sites prioritize compliance with the Fujifilm Sustainable Value Plan 2030.

*Bioplan, "Culture Media Market and Trends", 2020