• 19 Apr 2024
• Admin
• News Article

A*STAR Enter Collaboration to Launch Joint Labs for Cellular Immunotherapies

SCG Cell Therapy, A*STAR enter collaboration to launch joint labs for cellular immunotherapies

Overview

SCG Cell Therapy (SCG) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) announced the launch joint laboratories for cellular immunotherapies. This collaboration, at a combined funding of close to S$30 million supported under Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE2025), aims to advance the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to produce novel cell therapies that meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The collaboration will also establish a talent development programme to train the next generation of experts in this field, in accordance with current GMP and regulatory requirements.

Use of Innovative Tecchnologies

• The research and application of new technologies are essential for addressing growing healthcare needs and maintaining long-term sustainability. 
• However, turning laboratory innovations into practical clinical solutions poses significant challenges. 
• These often involve developing manufacturing processes, validating analytical methods, and implementing automation and digitalisation to guarantee the stability and scalability of products.

Advanced Therapeutics Alliance

• The joint laboratories, established at SCG’s GMP facility and A*STAR’s research facility, leverage SCG’s and A*STAR’s proprietary technologies to develop scalable GMP-grade iPSC and therapeutic products. 
• SCG contributes its specialised, automated cell therapy manufacturing technologies, while A*STAR brings its unique monoclonal antibody assets, iPSC banks, and expertise in process scaling and analytics.

Positive Impacts of Collaboration

• This collaboration bridges the expertise between public sector research and development (R&D) and industry, consolidating resources from SCG Cell Therapy and A*STAR’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) to advance innovative R&D towards GMP manufacturing. 
• Additionally, it immerses researchers in the rigorously controlled GMP environment, facilitating the progression from research to clinical application.

Words from SCG Cell Therapy

Cellular immunotherapies herald a new era of regenerative medicine, offering hope for patients with cancers and other serious illnesses. As a key player in T cell receptor (TCR) T cell therapeutics, SCG has developed in-house cGMP manufacturing capabilities to supply high-quality cell therapy products to patients. Through this first-of-its-kind joint collaboration with A*STAR, we bring together A*STAR’s advanced iPSC technology and bioprocessing capabilities with our expertise in GMP cell therapy manufacturing and clinical development, furthering our mission to provide affordable off-the-shelf cell therapy treatment options to patients”, said Christy Ma, chief strategy officer of SCG Cell Therapy.  

Words from A*STAR’s BTI

The discovery of iPSCs has revolutionised regenerative medicine, offering the potential for standardised, off-the-shelf cell therapies. Through this collaboration with SCG Cell Therapy, we aim to accelerate the translation of iPSC research into clinically viable therapies and strengthen Singapore's position as a global leader in cell therapy innovation. By leveraging our complementary expertise and resources, the joint labs will not only advance iPSC technology for scalable, GMP-compliant cell therapy production but also serve as a platform for nurturing the next generation of talent in this transformative field," said Prof Koh Boon Tong, executive director, A*STAR’s BTI.

About iPS Cells

• Induced pluripotent stem cells (also known as iPS cells or iPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cell that can be generated directly from adult cells. 
• The iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab in Kyoto, Japan, who showed in 2006 that the introduction of four specific genes encoding transcription factors could convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. 
• He was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize along with Sir John Gurdon “for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent”. Pluripotent stem cells hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine. 
• Because they can propagate indefinitely, as well as give rise to every other cell type in the body (such as neurons, heart, pancreatic and liver cells), they represent a single source of cells that could be used to replace those lost to damage or disease.

About SCG

• SCG is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on the development of novel immunotherapies in infections and its associated cancers. 
• The company targets the most common cancer-causing infections: helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B, and develops a broad and unique pipeline against infections and to prevent and cure its associated cancers.

About A*STAR

• The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. 
• Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society.