Business ExpandingCellares, an integrated development and manufacturing organization specializing in clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing, plans to establish a smart factory in Kashiwa, Japan

Cellares, a U.S. biotech company and the world’s first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO), announced that it is building a Smart Factory dedicated to clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing in Kashiwanoha Smart City, Chiba, Japan. They have developed proprietary solutions to overcome constraints related to cell therapy manufacturing, making it more affordable and widely available to patients in need. Their fully automated, high-performing manufacturing platform, Cell Shuttle, and its similarly fully automated, high-performing Cell Q™ system are used to manufacture cell therapy products such as CAR -T therapy. Other than Japan, the Cell Shuttle and Cell Q system is deployed in IDMO Smart Factories in the U.S. with future deployments planned in IDMO Smart Factories in Europe. Aiming to expand their business in Japan and Asia, the company established a Japanese subsidiary, Cellares Japan K.K., in August 2024, and will expedite construction of their factory with the aim of starting operations in January 2027.

To support Cellares with establishing a Japanese subsidiary and factory, JETRO’s Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) provided consultation services related to incorporation, taxation, and labor, industry-specific consultation, PMDA pre-interview support, municipal subsidy support, PR support, and introduction to real estate service provider.