FUJIFILM and Mitsubishi announced today that they have entered into a partnership in the contract manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals, a business field that is expected to expand in the pharmaceutical market. Under the partnership, 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 is set to become involved in the business management of FDBUS and FDBUK alongside Fujifilm in a joint effort to strongly promote the expansion of the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing business.
Biopharmaceuticals are made up of bio-molecules such as complex-structured proteins with a pharmacological effect that cannot be achieved with chemical synthesis. They are seen as effective treatment for some diseases with unmet medical needs, such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, for which effective therapies have yet to be established. With minimal side effects and high efficacy, biopharmaceuticals are expected to expand their presence in the pharmaceutical market. At the same time, the contract manufacturing of biopharmaceutical is also tipped to grow at a rate of over 15% per annum