Cellares and Mitsui Fudosan Announce the First IDMO Smart Factory for Commercial-Scale Cell Therapy Manufacturing in Japan
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cellares, a pioneer in automated cell therapy manufacturing, in collaboration with Mitsui Fudosan, announces the establishment of Japan's first next-gen commercial production site for CAR-T cell therapies. The facility is under construction in Kashiwa City, a vibrant urban center located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of central Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture. As part of the extensive Tokyo metropolitan region, Kashiwa serves as a booming biotech hub. This groundbreaking Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) Smart Factory is expected to provide employment to 350 people while enabling scalable and cost-effective cell therapy manufacturing, addressing an urgent need for patients in Japan and neighboring regions.
The facility, set to open in partnership with Mitsui Fudosan, will utilize Cellares' state-of-the-art technology platforms, the Cell Shuttle™ and Cell Q™, to automate cell therapy manufacturing and quality control. The technology reduces batch prices by up to 50% and eliminates the manufacturing bottlenecks faced by conventional CDMOs that use manual processes. Additionally, the entire Smart Factory will be integrated and optimized to eliminate any downstream bottlenecks as well.
'Cellares' new facility in Kashiwa City will enable our pharma clients to supply Japan from Japan. Manufacturing cell therapies locally simplifies cold chain logistics, accelerates vein-to-vein time and reduces cost,' said Fabian Gerlinghaus, CEO and Co-Founder of Cellares. 'Our Japanese IDMO Smart Factory is part of a broader strategy to be a global manufacturing partner for our clients and meet the total patient demand for cell therapies around the world.'
The new site's impact extends beyond patient care. By accelerating the availability of CAR-T treatments, this initiative has the potential to help advance the development and approval of CAR-T therapeutics in Japan. Once the IDMO Smart Factory is online, technical transfers between Cellares facilities in other regions are expected to be a seamless, rapid, software-enabled process. Thanks to fully automated processes on standardized technologies, tech transfer can now happen at digital speed.
Dr. Toshihiko Doi, the Chairperson of the Kashiwa-no-ha Life Science Committee, shared, 'For cancer patients in Japan, the establishment of this facility provides access to cutting-edge therapies that can make a critical difference in their fight against diseases. It marks a significant step toward eliminating the drug delivery lag time that has been a challenge for rare disease and oncology treatments.'
Mitsui Fudosan's robust network in Japan's life sciences industry has been instrumental in enabling this collaboration, ensuring the smooth dissemination of information to the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and the broader healthcare community.
This announcement represents Cellares' commitment to expanding its footprint in Japan, paving the way for further collaborations and innovations.
For more information, visit cellares.com.
About Cellares
Cellares is the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) and takes an Industry 4.0 approach to mass manufacturing the living drugs of the 21st century. The company is developing and operating integrated technologies for cell therapy manufacturing to accelerate access to life-saving cell therapies. The company's Cell Shuttle™ integrates all the technologies required for the entire manufacturing process in a flexible and high-throughput platform that delivers end-to-end automation. While the Cell Shuttle automates cell therapy manufacturing, the Cell Q™ automates quality control at high throughput, both for in-process and release QC. Cell Shuttles™ and Cell Qs™ will be deployed in Cellares' Smart Factories around the world, enabling each Smart Factory to produce 10 times as many cell therapy batches as a conventional CDMO with the same facility size and headcount. Partnering with Cellares enables academic medical centers, biotechnology companies, and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate cell therapy development and scale out manufacturing, lower process failure rates, lower manufacturing costs, and meet global patient demand.
The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California with its first commercial-scale IDMO Smart Factory in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Cellares is building a global network of IDMO Smart Factories, with additional facilities under construction in Europe and Japan. The company is backed by world-class investors and has raised over $355 million in financing.
For more information about Cellares, please visit cellares.com.
About Mitsui Fudosan Co.
Mitsui Fudosan is working to create new industries during this time of change in society and the economy. As a "Platformer," the company provides "Places" and "Communities" that bring together the ideas of companies, society, and individuals. In April 2024, it launched a Group's New Long-Term Vision, setting a strategy to explore areas beyond real estate. To support this, Innovation Promoting Division was established to drive innovation and help create new industries. At Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, Mitsui Fudosan works with the public, private, and academic sectors to create a community where people can live healthy lives and where new life science industries can grow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Japan Delegation Visits Illinois to Deepen Quantum Innovation Ties
CHICAGO, June 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on the momentum of previous delegations to Japan from the State of Illinois led by Governor J.B. Pritzker in October 2024 and the City of Chicago led by Deputy Mayor Kenya K. Merritt in March 2025, a high-level Japanese delegation will visit Illinois June 8-10 to strengthen collaboration in the rapidly advancing field of quantum technology. The delegation, organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and co-organized by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Intersect Illinois, World Business Chicago (WBC), Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, includes representatives from leading Japanese quantum and deep-tech companies, as well as many prominent Japanese organizations interested to learn about new innovations in the field of quantum computing. Their visit underscores the growing international recognition of Illinois as a global hub for quantum innovation. This visit also reflects the broader strategic partnership between the United States and Japan. In their February 2025 Joint Leaders' Statement, President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed their commitment to a "new golden age" of U.S.–Japan relations, emphasizing cooperation in technology, and economic development. The leaders highlighted the importance of joint innovation in emerging technologies—including quantum computing—as a pillar of their alliance. Illinois, and Chicago in particular, play a vital role in this bilateral relationship. Japan is one of Illinois' top foreign investors, with more than 47,000 Illinoisans employed by Japanese companies. The organizers are working in close partnership to welcome the delegation and facilitate meaningful engagement with local stakeholders. Chicago has emerged as a national leader in quantum research and commercialization, with over $1 billion in federal investment and the establishment of four National Quantum Initiative research centers—more than any other region in the U.S. The city is home to the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), a collaborative network that includes the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and other key institutions. These efforts are positioning Chicago as "The Quantum City," a nexus for cutting-edge research, workforce development, and industry partnerships. The delegation's itinerary includes visits and meetings with leading organizations, universities and companies including: Polsky Center Hyde Park Labs Argonne National Laboratory Chicago Quantum Exchange mHUB These engagements aim to foster deeper collaboration between Japanese and Illinois-based quantum stakeholders, explore investment opportunities, and promote knowledge exchange in quantum computing, sensing, and communications. The visit will conclude with the "Quantum Innovation Exchange" – JETRO's Japan Innovation Bridge (J-Bridge) Event – which will feature pitch presentations from Japanese and Chicago-based quantum companies, followed by networking. More information can be found here: This visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening U.S.-Japan cooperation in quantum technologies and highlights Illinois' growing role as a global center for quantum innovation. View source version on Contacts Matt FeagleyJETRO ChicagoEmail: matt_feagley@ Phone: 312-832-6000 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
25 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Japan Delegation Visits Illinois to Deepen Quantum Innovation Ties
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building on the momentum of previous delegations to Japan from the State of Illinois led by Governor J.B. Pritzker in October 2024 and the City of Chicago led by Deputy Mayor Kenya K. Merritt in March 2025, a high-level Japanese delegation will visit Illinois June 8-10 to strengthen collaboration in the rapidly advancing field of quantum technology. The delegation, organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and co-organized by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Intersect Illinois, World Business Chicago (WBC), Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, includes representatives from leading Japanese quantum and deep-tech companies, as well as many prominent Japanese organizations interested to learn about new innovations in the field of quantum computing. Their visit underscores the growing international recognition of Illinois as a global hub for quantum innovation. This visit also reflects the broader strategic partnership between the United States and Japan. In their February 2025 Joint Leaders' Statement, President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed their commitment to a 'new golden age' of U.S.–Japan relations, emphasizing cooperation in technology, and economic development. The leaders highlighted the importance of joint innovation in emerging technologies—including quantum computing—as a pillar of their alliance. Illinois, and Chicago in particular, play a vital role in this bilateral relationship. Japan is one of Illinois' top foreign investors, with more than 47,000 Illinoisans employed by Japanese companies. The organizers are working in close partnership to welcome the delegation and facilitate meaningful engagement with local stakeholders. Chicago has emerged as a national leader in quantum research and commercialization, with over $1 billion in federal investment and the establishment of four National Quantum Initiative research centers—more than any other region in the U.S. The city is home to the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), a collaborative network that includes the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and other key institutions. These efforts are positioning Chicago as 'The Quantum City,' a nexus for cutting-edge research, workforce development, and industry partnerships. The delegation's itinerary includes visits and meetings with leading organizations, universities and companies including: Polsky Center Hyde Park Labs Argonne National Laboratory Chicago Quantum Exchange mHUB These engagements aim to foster deeper collaboration between Japanese and Illinois-based quantum stakeholders, explore investment opportunities, and promote knowledge exchange in quantum computing, sensing, and communications. The visit will conclude with the 'Quantum Innovation Exchange' – JETRO's Japan Innovation Bridge (J-Bridge) Event – which will feature pitch presentations from Japanese and Chicago-based quantum companies, followed by networking. More information can be found here: This visit marks a significant step forward in strengthening U.S.-Japan cooperation in quantum technologies and highlights Illinois' growing role as a global center for quantum innovation.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Long hair and hot dogs: Meet the Japanese baseball stars making their mark on the Cubs
CHICAGO — Last year, Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga wowed fans when he took the mound at Wrigley Field for Chicago's home opener before going on to have a stellar season — Imanaga's first in the majors. The pitcher, also known as the 'Throwing Philosopher,' went 15-3 for the Cubs in 2024, racking up 174 strikeouts to go along with a 2.91 ERA. The 31-year-old had previously played professionally in Japan from 2016 to 2023. Advertisement In the States, Imanaga soon became a fan favorite not only for how well he pitched, but also for his charisma, sense of humor, and his long, flowing hair. 'You're saying I have the best hair?' a laughing Imanaga told NBC News through a translator when asked about his free-flowing locks. 'My teammates, if I'm drying my hair, if I'm combing my hair, they compliment me, telling me I have beautiful hair,' Imanaga said. 'But my mom and my friends are like, it's probably time to cut your hair.' It's not only the hair that's helped Imanaga endear himself to the Wrigley faithful. During his rookie year, the pitcher decided on 'Chelsea Dagger' as his walk-up song, a tune more famously known in Chicago as the goal song for the NHL's Blackhawks, dating back well over a decade to the hockey team's heyday. Advertisement 'When I first got to the Cubs, I think a lot of the fans were, 'Who is this pitcher?'' Imanaga said. 'And so for me, it was really important to get acclimated with the team, with the fans. What was important was to pick something that all the Chicago fans love.' Imanaga's countryman, outfielder Seiya Suzuki, employs a similar ethos when asked about his favorite ballpark food, saying he would have to go with hot dogs, 'especially' considering the team he plays for. Suzuki joined the Cubs in 2022 after a nine-year career in Japan, and he and Imanaga have since played key roles in helping turn around the team's fortunes. After back-to-back losing seasons, Chicago posted two winning records in each of the last two years. Suzuki and Imanaga have become global stars in the process and are part of a growing Japanese presence in Major League Baseball. In April, the Cubs opened the season in Tokyo against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who feature three Japanese-born players in Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. Advertisement 'When I was younger, I watched baseball in the U.S., and I thought it was really cool,' Suzuki said. 'So if when I'm playing and the fans in Japan, even if it's one extra person gets to watch, and they want to come to the U.S. to enjoy baseball or something like that, I think that'd be great.' While both Suzuki and Imanaga have pushed the right buttons with their home fans, Chicago's current objective is to get Imanaga back on the mound. He hasn't started a game since May 4, when he left a start against the Brewers with a hamstring injury. The Cubs placed Imanaga, whose jersey is the team's most popular this season, on the 15-day injured list the next day. He's currently progressing toward a return in early June, ramping up his rehab with some bullpen work. Chicago is currently first in the NL Central. This article was originally published on
