With expansion a prime focus for businesses worldwide, many are looking towards rapidly establishing new regions of growth, particularly in Asia, Pacifi c Rim countries.
The latest business developments from across Asia by Gwyneth Astles To appear in our next issue, send your Business and Financial News stories to
gwyneth@intlabmate.com
This section of International Labmate will especially look at the success of both Asian and European companies with established premises or business partnerships, highlighting the opportunities that exist while realising
potential for other companies to move into export markets.
Collaboration to strengthen South Korea’s cell and gene therapy workforce
therapies, including three MSC treatments. However, the rapidly growing demand for CGT has placed signifi cant pressure on the workforce, requiring specialised skills to manage complex manufacturing processes. KBIOHealth, a South Korean public institution focused on advancing biomedical infrastructure, is addressing this need by offering biopharma job training programs since 2022 and aims to drive the growth of the CGT sector in Korea and beyond by standardising workforce development.
Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korea’s KBIOHealth to jointly develop workforce training initiatives aimed at enhancing cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing capabilities. This collaboration will leverage Terumo BCT’s advanced technologies, including the Quantum Flex™ Cell Expansion System and Finia™ Fill and Finish System, to provide cutting-edge training for CGT manufacturing, with a focus on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies.
South Korea has emerged as a leader in CGT innovation, with more than 14 Ministry of Food and Drug Safety-approved
The collaboration will focus on the development of an advanced training centre that will open next year, designed to expand access to CGT-specifi c training. The centre will provide hands-on education in automated manufacturing workfl ows developed around Terumo BCT’s systems. The comprehensive curriculum will include training on good manufacturing practices (GMP)-based cell therapy manufacturing, quality control, human-derived cell culture, and bioreactor usage. The use of Virtual Reality (VR) training will also enable participants to gain real-world experience in a controlled, simulated environment.
As part of the collaboration, KBIOHealth will continue to provide training on the Quantum Flex platform, which has become a leading bioreactor for MSC manufacturing. The platform is currently used in clinical trials across fi ve countries. Terumo BCT’s holistic CGT ecosystem, which
includes Quantum Flex, Finia, and the Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System, will provide valuable insights into the standardisation of complex therapies like CAR T-cell therapies and support workforce development.
Myung-soo Lee, Chairman of KBIOHealth, stated: “Our goal is to build a solid foundation for global regenerative medicine and drive meaningful advancements through collaboration with Terumo BCT. Their strong commitment to workforce training and their innovative R&D pipeline offer tremendous opportunities for knowledge transfer, expanding the reach of cell therapy technologies.”
Veerle d’Haenens, General Manager of Global Therapy Innovations at Terumo BCT, added: “We are proud to support the growth of Korea’s CGT industry and enhance our contributions to cell therapy manufacturing. This MOU marks a signifi cant milestone in our partnership with KBIOHealth, and we are excited to collaborate on the development of the skilled workforce that will drive the success of CGT therapies in Korea and globally.”
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/Km5Z and
ilmt.co/PL/n3EO 64392pr@reply-direct.com
Indian merger expands pharmaceutical analysis capabilities
The GBA Group is further expanding its presence in India’s fast-growing life sciences sector through a strategic merger between its Indian subsidiary, Eureka Analytical Services Pvt Ltd, and Teena Biolabs Pvt Ltd, a respected provider of pharmaceutical analytics. The move will signifi cantly strengthen GBA’s position in the region by uniting the expertise, infrastructure, and regulatory standing of both companies.
Established in 1999, Teena Biolabs has developed a strong reputation in India for method development, validation, and routine batch testing. With a team of 200 employees across its Hyderabad headquarters and a second site in Panchkula, Teena serves both domestic pharmaceutical clients and exporters to regulated markets including the United States and Europe. Its Hyderabad laboratory holds US- FDA inspected status, giving it a key advantage in serving international pharmaceutical supply chains.
By acquiring a majority stake in Teena, Eureka will operate two US-FDA approved facilities in India, offering a robust and compliant platform for pharmaceutical analysis. This enhanced footprint supports Eureka’s strategic goal of becoming a top-tier analytical services provider in the Indian
market, while also extending GBA Group’s international laboratory network.
“India is one of the most dynamic pharmaceutical markets globally,” said Steffen Walter, CEO of the GBA Group. “This merger strengthens our service offering, bringing together Eureka’s and Teena’s complementary capabilities to better support both local and global clients.”
Eureka’s founders, Dr Gouri Satpathy and Sanjeev Khatri, described the deal as a ‘major milestone’ in expanding their pharmaceutical service portfolio. “The merger allows us to serve the Indian pharmaceutical sector more holistically and establish Eureka and GBA Group as a leading name in laboratory analysis,” they said.
Teena’s founders, Anjaiah and Nirooparani Katike, added that joining forces with a global organisation that already has a strong Indian base opens up new growth opportunities. “Our clients will benefi t from a wider service offering and the reach of an international network,” they said.
The partnership is expected to support the growing demand for high-quality laboratory services in India, while helping international pharma companies navigate regulatory requirements and accelerate development timelines.
Eureka Analytical Services Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of the GBA Group, acquires a majority stake in Teena Biolabs Pvt. Credit: GBA Group
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/YQG1 64419pr@reply-direct.com
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