Berlin: AGC Biologics has been selected by Teikoku Seiyaku Co Ltd to provide microbial contract development and manufacturing services for KTP-001, a recombinant human matrix metalloproteinase-7 (rhMMP-7) therapy being developed to treat lumbar disc herniation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the agreement covers cell bank creation, process development, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing for clinical trials. AGC Biologics' Heidelberg site General Manager, Dieter Kramer, stated that the company would apply its microbial development expertise to establish a strong foundation for the therapy's manufacturing programme.

Meanwhile, Teikoku Seiyaku Director and Executive Officer, Dr. Hiroyuki Kubo, said AGC Biologics was selected for its experience in microbial manufacturing and global operational footprint. He mentioned that the collaboration would support the development of a potential new treatment option for patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Initial cell bank creation activities will be carried out at AGC Biologics' microbial centre in Heidelberg, Germany, before the project transitions to the company's Chiba facility in Japan for process development and GMP manufacturing. AGC Biologics highlighted that the partnership also underscores its global microbial manufacturing network spanning facilities in Japan, the United States, Germany, and Denmark, enabling supply chain flexibility and production continuity for drug developers across different regions.

AGC Biologics is a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) providing development and manufacturing services for biopharmaceutical products, including therapeutic proteins, plasmid DNA, messenger RNA, viral vectors, and genetically engineered cells.