COVID-19: Fujifilm, Vaccine Manufacturing Contracting Ability: Bio CDMO Market
FUJIFILM Business:
In the “prevention” area
For the vaccine for the new coronavirus, we have been entrusted with the manufacture of the drug substance for the vaccine being developed by Novabacs of the United States at subsidiaries in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In the “diagnosis” area,
We supply a large number of reagents that shorten the time for PCR tests and X-ray diagnostic equipment that diagnoses pneumonia to medical sites.
In the “treatment” area,
The anti-influenza virus drug “AVIGAN” is attracting attention as a therapeutic drug for the new coronavirus infection.
Bio-Development and Manufacturing Contract (CDMO):
FUJIFILM is “particularly focusing on the healthcare field in recent years” is “contract development and manufacturing of biopharmacy (CDMO)”.
The healthcare division, which boasts sales of about 500 billion yen, aims to reach 1 trillion yen in the mid-2020s.
The bio-CDMO business is one of the important pillars of Fujifilm.
Interview with Chairman Shigetaka Komori:
State-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and advanced production technology are required for the manufacture of biopharmacy and API.
In fact, it is “this is a field where we are good at manufacturing and quality control of uniform and high quality photographic film”.
Acquired Merck & Co. FDB:
In 2011, we acquired a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnology (FDB)) and entered the bio-CDMO market.
Participating in Operation Warp Speed:
New Corona Vaccine Development Plan “Operation Warp Speed” Led by President Trump
To accommodate mass production of vaccine drug substances, FDB has reserved Texas-based manufacturing capacity for the US government.
In the UK, it plans to produce up to 60 million APIs procured by the government from the beginning of 2021.
Commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
For therapeutic agents, we have been commissioned to manufacture therapeutic drug candidates from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s new Corona Treatment Promotion Project.
We have reserved 20 to 30% of the production capacity of FDB’s Danish base for several years.
Current Fujifilm:
The healthcare business’s share of sales has grown to about a quarter of the company’s total.
The photography-related business, which once accounted for two-thirds of sales, accounts for more than a dozen percent.
Of the 317 consolidated subsidiaries, about one-third handle healthcare-related products.
You can see how you have invested in the bio CDMO business.