Asahi Kasei Life Science announced plans to construct a new spinning plant for its Planova virus removal filters in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki, Japan, marking a significant expansion in the company's bioprocessing capabilities. The facility will be the company's fourth spinning plant for hollow-fiber cellulose membrane filters, with construction scheduled to begin in July 2026 and operations starting in January 2030.
The initiative is backed by a grant from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) under the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Project, which supports the development of domestic infrastructure critical for vaccine production during public health emergencies. The project aligns with Asahi Kasei's recently announced medium-term management plan "Trailblaze Together," which positions the Life Science business as a key driver of future growth.
Market Growth Drives Expansion
The expansion comes in response to robust market projections for the biopharmaceutical sector. According to a Market.US report, the global biopharmaceutical market is forecasted to surpass $500 billion by 2032, with compound annual growth of 8.2% from 2022 to 2032. This growth trajectory is expected to drive a sharp increase in demand for developing and commercializing new drugs, resulting in heightened need for virus removal filters essential in manufacturing biologics.
"This new plant reinforces the momentum behind our newly established Life Science business," said Yusuke Kanazawa, Head of the Bioprocess Division at Asahi Kasei Life Science Corporation. "It demonstrates Asahi Kasei's commitment to making strategic investments while responding to rising global demand for virus filtration."
Production Focus and Capacity Enhancement
The new plant will significantly expand the company's production capacity, focusing on the production of Planova filters S20N, 15N, 20N, 35N, and 75N. These cellulose-based hollow fiber filters are highly regarded in Japan and internationally for their outstanding virus removal performance and protein permeability in the production of biologics such as biopharmaceuticals and plasma-derived therapies.
Planova is positioned as one of the global leaders in virus filtration for plasma-derived therapeutics and biologics. The company has continued to expand its product portfolio, launching the next-generation cellulose membrane Planova S20N in 2021, followed by Planova FG1 in 2024, which features higher flux capabilities.
Strategic Investment for Global Competitiveness
The planned capacity expansion represents a strategic investment to capture future demand, enhance global supply chain resilience, and reinforce Planova's position in the high-value bioprocessing market. Kanazawa emphasized that the project strengthens supply resilience and enhances competitiveness in the global biopharmaceutical market through the government-backed initiative.
Asahi Kasei Life Science positions its bioprocess business as one of its key growth engines, encompassing the manufacture and sale of Planova virus removal filters and related equipment, along with biosafety testing services and biopharmaceutical CDMO services. The company delivers optimal solutions to meet the increasingly diverse needs of customers worldwide through its expanding portfolio of virus filtration technologies.
