Yaskawa and Astellas Forge Cell Therapy Partnership

Leading industrial robot maker Yaskawa Electric and Astellas Pharma of Japan have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the creation of a cutting-edge cell treatment platform. By facilitating high-quality manufacturing and reducing the time needed for research and development, the MOU seeks to close the gap between the early phases of cell therapy research and commercialisation. Under Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, the platform may be made available to start-ups and academic institutions, which might lower expenditure in the manufacture of experimental drugs.

Challenges in the development of cell therapy products include low production stability and reproducibility, challenges in transferring technology from basic research to manufacturing or commercial production in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice, and the requirement for significant and costly investments in manufacturing. This dual-arm robot will be used by Astellas Pharma, which has installed "Maholo" for biological applications, to enhance its platform through the provision of cutting-edge cell manufacturing technologies, clinical development, and regulatory knowledge connected to cell therapy.

Yaskawa is expanding its business in the mechatronics application field as part of its new mid-term business plan, "Realise 25." The company is also creating and marketing clean environment robots for healthcare, food, and agriculture. The collaboration seeks to better the development environment, capitalise on complementary skills, and quicken the commercialisation, steady supply, and financial success of novel medications. In conclusion, Yaskawa and Astellas Pharma hope that their partnership in the cell treatment industry would help to create a sustainable society.