South Korea’s biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion Inc. has entered into a significant business collaboration with WuXi XDC, a joint venture between WuXi Biologics and WuXi STA, to jointly develop new antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). This partnership marks a pivotal step in Celltrion’s strategy to enhance its position in the ADC sector.
In December, Celltrion signed a contract development and manufacturing services (CDMO) agreement with WuXi XDC. This agreement focuses on refining the linker and payload synthesis processes, essential components in ADC development. WuXi XDC, specializing in contract research, development, and manufacturing services (CRDMO), concentrates on ADCs and bioconjugates, bringing its expertise to this collaboration.
The partnership gained momentum with the completion of WuXi XDC’s new manufacturing facility in September. This state-of-the-art plant offers comprehensive production capabilities, spanning from ADC therapeutic development to the manufacture of raw materials and final pharmaceutical products. This facility is set to play a crucial role in advancing the joint development efforts.
Celltrion anticipates that this enhanced partnership will significantly bolster its ADC pipelines. Currently, the company is actively developing six ADC lines. The collaboration aims to expedite the development of these multiple ADC drug pipelines, leveraging both Celltrion’s and WuXi XDC’s technological expertise and resources. This strategic alliance represents a forward leap in Celltrion’s ambition to expand its footprint in the global biopharmaceutical market, particularly in the innovative and rapidly evolving field of ADCs.
