UBP selects FlexFactory for biopharmaceutical production
United BioPharma (UBP) has selected GE Healthcare’s FlexFactory manufacturing platform for its new facility in Taiwan. The platform will be used to build late-stage clinical and commercial production capacity for biopharmaceuticals.
The project, which will help improve access to biopharmaceuticals in Taiwan and surrounding areas, has received support from the Taiwanese government. This further adds to the government’s programme, which includes the introduction of several policies, to create a favourable environment for biotech, pharma and medical device development in the country.
UBP’s new facility, including GE’s FlexFactory based on integrated single-use technologies, will particularly focus on the production of a monoclonal antibody, UB-421, which will be used for HIV treatment. Additionally, GE will work closely with UBP to establish its contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) business.
“The completion of this state-of-the-art facility equipped with two of GE’s 2,000 litre single-use bioreactors and integrated manufacturing process is a much-anticipated achievement for UBP to enter into commercial-scale current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) production with international standards,” explained Dr Chang Yi Wang, chairperson of UBP. “It also resolves the manufacturing bottleneck for UBP’s rich pipeline. With the potential expansion to twelve 2,000-litre production lines within this eight storey building, UBP is and will continue to be the largest protein drug manufacturer in Taiwan in the foreseeable future.”
“UBP’s FlexFactory will help deliver increased capacity as well as supporting Taiwan’s growing pharma industry requirements more rapidly,” added Sven Henrichwark, general manager, Global Commercial BioProcess, GE Healthcare. “Taiwan’s desire to boost its manufacturing capacity is an industry need we are hearing echoed across the globe. Local production capability is a crucial element in providing national healthcare systems with the vital medicines to address growing patient needs, We are excited to contribute to UBP’s development by delivering a robust and flexible biomanufacturing solution, that includes final qualification and training.”