United BioPharma Inc. has selected GE Healthcare’s FlexFactory manufacturing platform for its new facility focusing on late-stage clinical and commercial production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in Hsinchu Industrial Park, Taiwan. With this added capacity, UBP will support local needs in bringing biopharmaceuticals to the local and surrounding markets, as well as opening global markets.
 
The new facility, including GE’s FlexFactory based on integrated single-use technologies, will be dedicated to late-stage clinical and commercial production capacity of biopharmaceuticals, especially a monoclonal antibody, UB-421, which will be used for HIV treatment. GE will also continue to work closely with UBP on the establishment of its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business.

Dr. Chang Yi Wang, chairperson of UBP, said, “The completion of this state-of-the-art facility equipped with two of GE’s 2,000 liter single-use bioreactors and integrated manufacturing process is a much-anticipated achievement for UBP to enter into commercial-scale current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) -production with international standards.  It also resolves the manufacturing bottleneck for UBP’s rich pipeline.  With the potential expansion to twelve 2,000-liter production lines within this 8-story building, UBP is and will continue to be the largest protein drug manufacturer in Taiwan in the foreseeable future.”     

Sven Henrichwark, general manager, Global Commercial BioProcess, GE Healthcare Life Sciences, said, “UBP’s Flex Factory will help deliver increased capacity as well as supporting Taiwan’s growing pharma industry requirements more rapidly. Taiwan’s desire to boost its manufacturing capacity is an industry need we are hearing echoed across the globe. Local production capability is a crucial element in providing national healthcare systems with the vital medicines to address growing patient needs. We are excited to contribute to UBP’s development by delivering a robust and flexible biomanufacturing solution, that includes final qualification and training.”