Fujifilm, Mitsubishi in Bio-CMO Pact

Fujifilm and Mitsubishi have entered into a partnership in for biopharma contract manufacturing. The companies have signed an agreement to transfer the ownership of 20% equity interests in Fujifilm’s wholly-owned biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing subsidiaries, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A. Inc. (FDBUS) and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited (FDBUK), to Mitsubishi Corporation. Mitsubishi Corporation will become involved in the business management of FDBUS and FDBUK alongside Fujifilm in a joint effort to strongly promote the expansion of the bio-CMO business.

Fujifilm established FDBUS and FDBUK after acquiring the Merck Biomanufacturing Network from Merck earlier this year. According to a joint corporate statement, “Mitsubishi Corporation is tapping into its extensive experiences in the pharmaceutical business, including biopharmaceuticals, as it becomes involved in the management of FDBUS and FDBUK. It will make use of its global sales network and marketing capability, thereby contributing to strengthening the companies’ sales capacity in areas such as attracting new customers.”