Asahi Kasei Medical Completes New Assembly Line for Virus Filters

Asahi Kasei Medical has completed the construction of the third Planova virus removal filter assembly plant in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Asahi Kasei Medical's Bioprocessing Division includes Planova virus removal filters and equipment, which are integral to the production of biotherapeutic products such as biopharmaceuticals and plasma derivatives. In addition, the division provides biosafety testing services and operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biopharmaceuticals.

Planova launched cellulose hollow fiber membrane filters in 1989 specifically for the removal of viruses from biotherapeutic products. Subsequently, Planova launched hydrophilic PVDF hollow fiber membrane filters, Planova BioEX, in 2009. As these two product lines play an important role in ensuring the safety of biopharmaceuticals, they have gained recognition among pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. In 2022, Planova released a new generation of cellulose hollow fiber membrane filters. These filters are known for their strong virus removal efficiency and user-friendly operation, and have received positive feedback from customers.

As global standards for the safety of biotherapeutic viruses become more stringent and the development of monoclonal antibodies and other biopharmaceuticals continues to advance, the demand for virus removal filters is expected to grow. To maintain a stable supply, Asahi Kasei Medical has been actively increasing Planova's production capacity. This includes the completion of a new spinning plant for Planova in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan in 2019, the decision to expand its Planova BioEX filter spinning plant in Oita, Japan in 2021, and the recently announced completion of an assembly plant.