TOKYO, December 23, 2025 – FUJIFILM Corporation today announced the completion of one of Japan’s largest bio CDMO[1] facilities (the new plant) at the Toyama Second Factory of FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical and held a completion ceremony to mark the occasion. The new plant is the company’s first antibody drug manufacturing plant in Japan and is scheduled to be operational in 2027. Together with an adjacent plant currently under construction, Fujifilm will establish end-to-end manufacturing services covering drug substance manufacturing through finished goods and packaging, serving as the company’s bio CDMO hub in Asia.
The new plant is equipped with 2 x 5,000 liters (L) mammalian cell culture bioreactors, which are among the world’s largest single-use[2] bioreactors, as well as 2 x 2,000 L bioreactors. To ensure high quality and faster technology transfer between sites while reducing construction lead time, the facility adopts the “kojoX™” modular facility design approach, which standardizes equipment and quality management systems with the FUJIFILM Biotechnologies’ site in the UK.
Fujifilm is establishing a globally competitive bio CDMO site in Japan that enables rapid and efficient contract manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, such as antibody drugs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs[3]). This new site leverages FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical’s aseptic manufacturing expertise, cultivated through injectable antibiotic production, and combines it with the expertise of FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, which operates bio CDMO services in Europe and the U.S.
In Japan, demand for biopharmaceuticals continues to grow, yet many pharmaceutical companies outsource manufacturing to overseas[4], creating challenges in the speed of process development and technology transfer. To address these issues, Fujifilm is building a manufacturing facility in Japan that meets rigorous global quality standards, aiming to reduce the burden of technology transfer caused by language and geographical barriers, accelerate market launch, and contribute to a stable supply of biopharmaceuticals.
The new plant, together with an adjacent plant under construction for mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, has been selected by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for the project of “Developing Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Sites to Strengthen Vaccine Production.” This dual-use designation will allow the facility to manufacture biopharmaceuticals during normal times and switch to vaccine production in the event of a pandemic.
The Fujifilm Group offers drug discovery support solutions, including cell culture media, reagents, and iPS cells, alongside its CDMO services. It provides comprehensive support to a wide range of customers, including pharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, and academia, from early-stage drug development through commercial production. Under the guiding principle of being “Partners for Life,” the company strives to be a trusted partner in advancing healthcare and delivering innovative therapies to patients worldwide.
[1] Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization. Provides a wide range of services to pharmaceutical companies, including process development, stability testing, clinical drug development and manufacturing, and commercial production.
[2] Single-use components used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Compared to traditional stainless-steel systems, single-use equipment eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization, enhancing flexibility and efficiency, and has become widely adopted in recent years.
[3] Combines an antibody with a drug such as an anticancer agent. By binding the antibody to antigens present on the surface of cancer cells, ADCs enable targeted delivery of the drug, offering high therapeutic efficacy with fewer side effects.
[4] According to trade statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Finance (Export Statistical Item Classification No. 30.02), Japan recorded a biopharmaceutical trade deficit of JPY1.7 trillion in 2024.
- Location
FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical, Toyama Second Factory (Hasumachi site) in Japan
- Building Name
Plant 704
- Structure
Six stories above ground, height 41.2 m, total floor area approx. 16,000 m²
- Installed Equipment
2 x 5,000-liter mammalian cell culture bioreactors
2 x 2,000-liter mammalian cell culture bioreactors
Additional equipment for scale-up and purification processes- Start of Operations
2027
Since 2011, the Fujifilm Group has invested more than JPY1 trillion in its bio CDMO business, providing comprehensive services globally—from process development and clinical drug manufacturing to commercial production—for a wide range of biopharmaceuticals, including antibody drugs, cell therapies, gene therapies, and vaccines.
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, the core company of this business, leverages over 30 years of experience and proprietary high-productivity technologies, operating sites in the UK, U.S., and Denmark. Modular facilities and standardized processes under its kojoX™ global network enable rapid technology transfer and flexible supply chain support.
To meet growing demand for antibody drugs, Fujifilm is expanding capacity at its North Carolina and Denmark sites, aiming to secure a total production capacity of over 750,000 liters by 2028.
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation
Corporate Communications Division, Public Relations Group
+81-3-6271-2000
FUJIFLM Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd.
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