SCG Cell Therapy (SCG) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore launched joint laboratories 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 is supported by S$30 million ($22 million) under Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan.
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, according to an SCG official, who added that SCG contributes its specialized, automated cell therapy manufacturing technologies, while A*STAR brings its monoclonal antibody assets, iPSC banks, and expertise in process scaling and analytics.
“Cellular immunotherapies herald a new era of regenerative medicine, offering hope for patients with cancers and other serious illnesses,” noted Christy Ma, chief strategy officer of SCG Cell Therapy. “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.”
“The discovery of iPSCs has revolutionized regenerative medicine, offering the potential for standardized, 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,” added Koh Boon Tong, PhD, executive director, A*STAR’s biotechnology training institute.
“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.”
