Taiwan’s TFBS partners with Univercells Technologies for use of bioreactor to develop GMP processes

Image: Univercells Technologies' scale-X™ carbo mid-scale fixed-bed bioreactor

TFBS will use Univercells’ scale-X™ carbo mid-scale fixed-bed bioreactor to support GMP viral vector operations 

TFBS is Taiwan’s first viral vector contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), which provides novel biomanufacturing technologies for flexible and scalable viral production. It plans to leverage Univercells’ scale-X™ carbo mid-scale fixed-bed bioreactor for good manufacturing practice (GMP) viral vector operations at its New Taipei City facility, which is undergoing an expansion.  

The company is currently building out its QC testing and biological safety testing capabilities at the site and is set to begin construction of a new GMP-grade manufacturing facility for viral vectors soon.  

Speaking about the partnership, TFBS CEO Thomas Yuan said: ‘The era of cell and gene therapy is moving rapidly here in APAC, and we are happy to add the scale-X carbo bioreactor to our toolbox of enabling technologies. The ability to support existing processes with simplified process transfer and scale-up from traditional flatware or packed-bed bioreactors, or to start with new process design is critical.’ 

He added that scale-X carbo bioreactor is ‘the only technology offering a mid-scale solution for GMP production, allowing customers to reach clinical stages with reduced time and costs, while achieving high productivity to keep programmes on track.’ The technology will be available from August 2022.  

The full scale-X bioreactor portfolio includes the hydro for small-scale benchtop and research applications; carbo for process development, clinical and scalable commercial phases, which will be leveraged in this partnership; as well as the nitro for large-scale commercial production.   

Mathias Garny, CEO of Univercells Technologies, added that the portfolio is ‘built on the tenets of intensification and integration, which will be critical to continuing to enable both internal and outsourced manufacturers as the market evolves.’