Esco Lifesciences Group and Its Affiliate, Esco Aster, Signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry Technology Development Center (PITDC) Taiwan
Key Points:
- Esco Aster's collaboration with PITDC Taiwan signifies a strategic alliance aimed at advancing manufacturing standards and consolidating Taiwan's position in the burgeoning cell therapy industry.
- The partnership involves combining PITDC's stem cell innovation process with Esco's advanced bioreactor technology, resulting in an important advancement in international cooperation in stem cell production and bioreactor technology.
- The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of new stem cell therapies, particularly addressing diseases with high unmet needs such as fibrotic conditions, organ transplantation, and bone marrow fibrosis. This collaboration holds the potential to bring new hope for patients and significantly impact medical advancements.
SINGAPORE—13 March 2024 - In response to the next wave of advanced manufacturing as well as cGMP
Standards in the
cell therapy industry 4.0 and to consolidate Taiwan's competitive advantage in the burgeoning cell therapy
industry, the Medical Technology Development Center (MTPDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
ESCO ASTER.
The MOU was signed by Mr. Xiangliang (XL), Lin CEO of ESCO ASTER (right X), and Mr. Ping-Lun Chiang, Director of
the
Department of Medical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology Center (left X).
The Center for Pharmaceutical Industry and Technology Development announced that it has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with ESCO Life Sciences Group (ESCO), a Singapore-based company, to jointly invest in the
development of 3D Tide Motion bioreactors to produce cGMP 3D mesenchymal stromal cells.
The collaboration will combine the key technologies of the Center's stem cell innovation process with ESCO's
advanced
bioreactor technology first developed at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Taiwan, marking
an
important advancement in international cooperation in the field of stem cell production and bioreactor
technology.
The cellular therapy team of the Center for Medicinal Technology, under the subsidy of the Ministry of
Economic
Affairs'
Science and Technology Program, has built an immunomodulatory precision cellular process technology to enhance
the
immunomodulatory function of mesenchymal stromal cells.
This technology has shown significant potential in the treatment of diseases such as organ transplantation
anti-rejection and bone marrow fibrosis, which can improve the survival rate after transplantation and reduce
the
dependence on anti-rejection drugs.
In an animal model of bone marrow fibrosis, the technology is more effective than existing clinical drugs such
as
Jakavi
in alleviating the symptoms of the disease. The Center has completed the validation and patent application of
this
technology.
Esco Lifesciences Group and affiliate Esco Aster have complete GLP and cGMP-compliant facilities, and its
tidal
bioreactor has been widely used in international human and animal vaccine production, secretomes, cancer
diagnostics,
and exosomes.
The Center will cooperate with Esco Lifesciences Group to scale up the production of new cellular drug
products,
and
Esco Aster will help the Center to attract capital from Southeast Asia and facilitate the international
cooperation for
the export of the whole clinical protocol for advanced medicinal therapies or otherwise known as cell, tissue
or
gene
therapy products (CTGTP).
This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of new stem cell therapies and bring new hope for
the
treatment of related diseases with high unmet need in fibrotic conditions such as myelofibrosis, cardiac
stroke
regeneration to aid recovery as well as post organ transplant for liver, kidney, and other organ transplant.
About Esco Aster
Esco Aster is a contract research development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) founded and deeply rooted by scientists enabling fellow scientists to translate their bench work into life-saving diagnostics, medicines, therapies, cosmeceuticals, and cellular agriculture, at affordable prices for self-sufficiency of the country. We make complex manufacturing simple via our proprietary best-in-class continuous manufacturing platforms providing a reliable and linearly scalable outcome. Learn more at www.escoaster.com and connect with Esco Aster on LinkedIn
About Esco Lifesciences Group
Esco Lifesciences is a world-leading life science company with a
diversified portfolio and sales in over 100 countries. As a manufacturer of laboratory and biopharma equipment,
and IVF medical devices, Esco offers tailored solutions that fit the needs of laboratories in various industries.
Esco Lifesciences contributes to meet the challenges of the 21st century with a diverse range of business units.
The
company continuously innovates its products to help the clinical and industrial laboratories achieve successful
conclusions in research and development, quality control, and analysis. We continue to provide reliable
world-class
equipment to help pharmaceutical companies make their products safer and more cost-effective. And with the
increasing
demand of the IVF industry, we have developed efficient ART equipment to enable equitable access to infertility
care.
About PITDC
The PITDC Taiwan is a leading institution driving innovation in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. Through collaborations with industry and academia, PITDC develops cutting-edge technologies to address healthcare challenges. With a focus on research, development, and commercialization, PITDC supports Taiwan's medical industry growth. Through strategic partnerships and state-of-the-art facilities, PITDC translates scientific discoveries into practical applications. Positioned as a key player in Taiwan's healthcare ecosystem, PITDC fosters innovation and partnerships to advance medical technologies, benefiting global healthcare outcomes. Visit PITDC's official website for more information.
*Adapted from: https://healthmedia.com.tw/main_detail.php?id=62277