AGC Biologics Launches Cell and Gene Technologies Division for Advanced Therapies

• AGC Biologics has launched a dedicated Cell and Gene Technologies Division, leveraging its Milan Center of Excellence to enhance CDMO services for advanced therapy developers.

• The division, led by Luca Alberici, aims to offer a global network of development and manufacturing sites, supporting CGT projects from IND to commercialization.

AGC Biologics has announced the establishment of its Cell and Gene Technologies Division, a move designed to strengthen its contract manufacturing capabilities in the growing field of advanced therapies. The division will initially operate from the company’s Milan Cell and Gene Center of Excellence, where AGC Biologics has built a 30-year track record in cell and gene therapy (CGT) production.

The company has produced hundreds of GMP batches and supported the launch of nine commercial cell and gene therapy products. In 2024, its cell and gene business grew organically by 20%, even as other CDMOs in the sector downsized or closed facilities. Recent projects include lentiviral vector commercial manufacturing for Autolus’ Aucatzyl and Adaptimmune’s Lete-Cel, a clinical exosome partnership with Pandorum, and an adeno-associated viral vector initiative.

AGC Biologics is expanding its large-scale vector manufacturing capabilities, now offering lentiviral vector production at 1,000-litre capacity, with a cost as low as $1,000 per patient. The company has also enhanced its in-house quality control capabilities and proprietary technology platforms, ProntoLVV and BravoAAV, to support CGT development and production.

The new division will operate across a global network, including sites in Milan, Italy; Longmont, Colorado, USA; and Yokohama, Japan. Its goal is to provide tailored manufacturing solutions for cell and gene therapy developers at every stage of the product lifecycle.

Luca Alberici, who has over 20 years of industry experience, will serve as Executive Vice President of the Cell and Gene Technologies Division. “The cell and gene field has so much promise, and this new division will provide a more dedicated focus from pre-IND to commercial, while ensuring cost-effective market access,” he said.