Terumo BCT, Taiwan Bio to Advance Treg Manufacturing onto Automated Platform

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT) is partnering with Taiwan Bio to automate regulatory T-cell (Treg) manufacturing.

The transition onto Terumo BCT’s Quantum Flex platform allows Taiwan Bio to leverage the 2025 Nobel Prize-winning discovery of Tregs. These regulate immune tolerance and are being used in the development of the therapy TRK-001, now in Phase II trials.

Regarding TRK-001, its intended purpose is to prevent graft rejection in kidney transplantation. Adopting an automated platform will move away from manual processes toward more repeatable and scalable production.

Why Treg Discovery Matters

“As a rare, difficult-to-expand, inherently unstable cell type, Tregs make manufacturability a defining consideration,” said Taiwan Bio CEO Cyrus Yang. “Our collaboration with Terumo enables us to move beyond a highly manual workflow and evaluate an integrated, closed manufacturing approach.”

Yang added the partnership helps improve efficiency and accessibility, reduce cost of goods sold, and shorten cycle time.

Wenyan Leong, Director, APAC Commercial Cell and Gene Therapy, Terumo BCT, echoed those sentiments.

“Manufacturing stability is the bridge between a scientific breakthrough and a viable therapy,” Leong said. “We are replacing manual variability with an automated, standardized process designed to perform at both clinical and commercial scale. This collaboration is about establishing a robust operational foundation that allows developers to advance even the most sensitive cell types.”

Terumo and Taiwan Bio Plan Path Forward

Both companies have begun to evaluate Terumo BCT’s integrated 3-in-1 workflow protocol for its operational simplicity, manufacturing efficiency, and scalability. Subsequently, the companies should complete initial transition and optimization activities in the coming months.

The overriding goal, again, is to adapt the integrated TRK-001 process to the Quantum Flex platform. After that, candidate advancement can begin. Terumo BCT and Taiwan Bio aim to advance at least one next-generation Treg candidate to an Investigational New Drug application.