Fujifilm and HORIBA Develop Revolutionary Gene Delivery System with 100x Productivity Boost for Gene Therapy Manufacturing
核心洞察
Fujifilm and HORIBA (搜索) have co-developed the industry's first continuous electroporation technology that enhances gene delivery efficiency by approximately 100 times compared to conventional chemical transfection methods.
The novel gene delivery system addresses manufacturing challenges in the rapidly growing gene therapy market, which is projected to expand at a 30% compound annual growth rate through 2030.
HORIBA (搜索) plans to commercialize the finalized device globally by 2026 or later, targeting North American and European markets where gene therapy demand is particularly high.
FUJIFILM Corporation and HORIBA (搜索), Ltd. announced the co-development of a breakthrough gene delivery system that dramatically enhances productivity in gene therapy manufacturing through the industry's first continuous electroporation technology. The innovation delivers approximately 100 times greater productivity compared to conventional methods, addressing critical manufacturing bottlenecks in the rapidly expanding gene therapy sector.
Revolutionary Continuous Electroporation Technology
The novel system represents a significant advancement over traditional chemical transfection methods that rely on polyethylenimine (PEI (搜索)) reagents. Fujifilm's continuous electroporation technology applies precisely controlled electrical pulses to cell membranes, creating minute pores that allow genes to be directly delivered into cells with significantly enhanced efficiency.
"The conventional method, which relies on chemical reactions transfection reagent, faces efficiency challenges due to the complex chemical reactions involved and the difficulty in controlling the interactions between cells and reagents," according to the companies' joint announcement. The new technology addresses these limitations by enabling direct gene delivery through controlled electrical pulsing.
The system operates in continuous flow, offering flexibility to adjust throughput and handle production scales ranging from small to large-scale manufacturing. This continuous operation contrasts with conventional batch-based methods, contributing substantially to both manufacturing efficiency and cost reduction in gene therapy production.
Addressing Market Growth and Manufacturing Challenges
Gene therapy, which uses biotechnology to introduce functional genes into the body to target the root cause of genetic disorders, is attracting global attention for treating intractable diseases that currently lack effective treatment options. The global cell and gene therapy market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 30% through 2030, according to Fujifilm's analysis based on Evaluate Pharma data.
Despite this promising growth trajectory, the field faces significant challenges including technological complexities, manufacturing process inefficiencies, and high research and development costs. The collaboration between Fujifilm and HORIBA (搜索) specifically targets these manufacturing productivity and cost reduction challenges.
Strategic Partnership and Commercialization Plans
The development leveraged Fujifilm's advanced technologies and process control expertise across biopharmaceuticals and other business fields, while HORIBA (搜索) contributed manufacturing expertise and global support capabilities for industrial applications. HORIBA will oversee the system's design and production, leading sales and support efforts following commercial launch.
The companies plan to release the finalized device to the global market in 2026 or later, with particular focus on North American and European markets where gene therapy demand is especially high.
"At Fujifilm, we are dedicated to supporting pharmaceutical companies and patients through integrated solutions across the drug development lifecycle, guided by our 'Partners for Life' principle," stated Toshihisa Iida, Director and Corporate Vice President of Fujifilm's Life Sciences Strategy Headquarters. "The implementation of continuous electroporation technology marks a major step forward, improving gene delivery efficiency while addressing manufacturing cost challenges."
Technology Validation and Industry Impact
The continuous electroporation technology was presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy in Los Angeles in 2023, demonstrating its scientific validation within the gene therapy community. The 100-fold productivity improvement is based on internal studies by Fujifilm comparing the new system to conventional chemical transfection using PEI (搜索) reagents.
HORIBA (搜索) President Masayuki Adachi expressed confidence in the technology's potential: "I am delighted that we have succeeded in developing a continuous electroporation system based on Fujifilm's outstanding technology. The Bio & Healthcare field is essential to future growth, and going forward we will leverage our strength in analytical and measurement technologies, data management capabilities, and global support infrastructure."
The collaboration builds on the companies' existing partnership history across bioscience and semiconductor fields, including previous joint research using HORIBA (搜索)'s sensor technologies to improve pharmaceutical production process efficiency. The gene delivery system project was formally launched in 2023 to address production challenges in the growing gene therapy field.