CDMO, AGC Biologics, announced a strategic decision about the large-scale single-use technology it will use at its new Yokohama, Japan facility. The company added two 5,000 L Thermo Scientific DynaDrive Single-Use Bioreactors (S.U.B.), with GMP operations beginning in 2027.

The Yokohama facility is expected to help maximize operational and supply chain efficiencies across AGC Biologics’ global network by adding another site in the region.

AGC Biologics’ Yokohama facility will offer support from initial process development work for early-phase projects to late-phase and commercial production. It will support mammalian expression, cell therapy, and messenger RNA (mRNA) drug products.

“The new Yokohama site is designed to utilize single-use bioreactors to offer large-scale GMP manufacturing,” said Christoph Winterhalter, Chief Business Officer, AGC Biologics. “This location offers the capabilities to meet the commercial needs of customers in Japan and Asia, as well as global customers seeking capacity using the latest technology.”

According to 2024 data from BDO Group’s bioTRAK Database, single-use technology represents 51 percent of all mammalian bioreactor technology globally, outpacing the traditional stainless-steel alternative. This new bioreactor technology ensures the company stays ahead of industry-wide demand for single-use systems.