For more Information, please visite Cologne Technical Center

Please note that there is no change in our corporate entities and structure, and that our addresses, phone numbers, facsimile numbers and other contact information will remain unchanged.

We look forward to expanding our offering range of purification solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry under our new division name.

This workshop will contain presentations on viral filtration theory and practice as well as industry-based applications and results.  It will be an excellent opportunity to learn valuable techniques and gain insight that can be applied to your efforts in the industry and your company.

Distinguished speakers from Planova, BioEX and New Membrane Technology users with direct and high experience in use of virus removal filters, process scale-up and new membrane technology as applied to biological products will share their priceless knowledge and experience during this seminar.

Two years after our successful event in Paris, this workshop will provide technical updates on our range of products.  We will be taking an advantage of this opportunity to present reports on our line of equipments and services.  We will provide an exclusive view into our product pipeline.

Further information on programmes, venue, registration details, payments and accommodations will be availible next month.

You will find the information on the workshop page.

We hereby report that this tragic event has had no notable effect on the manufacture and supply of Planova filters and related products.

An announcement will be made promptly in the event that any effect on the stable supply of Planova products is anticipated.

The key features of BioOptimal™ MF-SL are as follows:

   1. High throughput and fast processing times.

   2. Excellent filter performance even with high-density cell culture.

   3. High clarity of filtrate, even with highly turbid cell culture.

   4. Availability of various surface area sizes, making for easy scalability.

   5. Chemically stable polysulfone membrane, compatible with industry
       standardcleaning and sterilization processes.

About Asahi Kasei Medical
      As a part of the Asahi Kasei Group’s sharpening focus on healthcare-related fields, Asahi Kasei Medical is steadily developing its range of advanced manufacturing solutions for the bioprocess industry. The company is the established global market leader in virus filtration products, with its Planova™ virus removal filters having an unrivalled 20 year history of trusted use in the production of biotherapeutics. An innovative line-up of equipment solutions for bioprocessing —including chromatography equipment, in-line buffer dilution systems, and virus filtration and integrity test skids— are also available from its wholly owned US subsidiary Asahi Kasei Bioprocess, Inc. The launch of BioOptimal™ MF-SL filters marks a notable addition to Asahi Kasei Medical’s range of unique products that continue to provide heightened reliability and efficiency in bioprocessing.

www.biologicalproduction.com

Dr.Takashi Tsuboi will give there the presentation:
Virus removal filter, retrospective overview and new proposal "Planova BioEX"

-Wednesday 9 June: 12:25 -

Outline of the new plant
     
Location:     Oita, Japan
Capacity:     40,000 m2/year
Investment:     ≈ ¥2.5 billion
Groundbreaking:     April 2009
Completion:     May 2010

Context and objectives of the integration
Asahi Kasei Medical manufactures and markets Planova™ hollow-fiber virus
removal filters for use in the production of biotherapeutics. Planova™ filters are
supplied to North American markets via an import business division of Asahi
Kasei Medical America Inc. On March 1, 2009, Asahi Kasei Medical entered the
bioprocess equipment manufacturing business with the acquisition of assets of
TechniKrom, Inc. by its US subsidiary Asahi Kasei TechniKrom, Inc.

Asahi Kasei TechniKrom has worked closely with Asahi Kasei Medical on the
commercialization of equipment for use with the latter’s bioprocess membranes,
and there is broad customer overlap between the two companies’ respective
bioprocess product families in the US market. The integration of the US-based
bioprocess filter and equipment businesses will therefore facilitate synergies in
the form of increased operational efficiency and effectiveness resulting from
unified sales and technical/scientific support functions. The start of integrated
operations of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess will thus mark a major advance in the
strategic expansion and development of the bioprocess business for Asahi Kasei Medical.

Expansion and development of the bioprocess business
In recent years, demand for biotherapeutics manufactured using biotechnology
such as genetic engineering and cell culture has grown strongly, resulting in
rising demand for advanced technologies that enable the safe production of highquality biotherapeutics. Planova™ hollow-fiber filters from Asahi Kasei Medical – which remove harmful viruses during biotherapeutic manufacture – are highly rated by the world’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers for their outstanding quality and performance, particularly in the area of plasma-derived therapeutics, where they have earned clear market leadership. Asahi Kasei Medical’s entry to the bioprocess equipment market with subsidiary Asahi Kasei TechniKrom has further reinforced its presence within the bioprocess industry.

The integration of its North American bioprocess operations is a key facet of Asahi Kasei Medical’s ongoing expansion and development of business in the growing bioprocess industry. Asahi Kasei Medical will continue to leverage the
many outstanding technologies of the Asahi Kasei Group to commercialize
superior products and equipment such as Planova™ BioEX, a new virus removal
filter launched in June 2009 that enables the virus filtration of highconcentration
protein solutions.

Profile of Asahi Kasei Bioprocess, Inc.
President: Louis J. Bellafiore
Headquarters: 1855 Elmdale Avenue, Glenview, IL 60026 USA
Employees: Approximately 50
Share structure: 100% subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
Establishment: September 19, 2008
Operations: R&D, manufacture, and sale of bioprocess-related equipment;
import and sale of Planova™ virus removal filters; technical
and scientific service and support

* Asahi Kasei Medical’s bioprocess business comprises process membranes,
equipment, and systems for use in the manufacture of biotherapeutics, i.e.
medicines obtained through biological processes utilizing techniques such as
genetic engineering and cell culture rather than being synthesized with chemical
processes. Examples of biotherapeutics include plasma derivatives and protein
therapeutics such as interferon, growth hormones, erythropoietin, and
monoclonal antibodies.

The workshop documentation will be available soon.

The next workshop location and date will we anounced early 2010.

Developed using Asahi Kasei Medical’s unique technology base in cellulose hollow fiber virus filters and polymer science, Planova™ BioEX filters incorporate a durable hydrophilic PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) hollow fiber membrane, enabling them to cope with the harsh processing conditions typical of state of the art biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Using Planova™ BioEX filters, it is now possible to safely and efficiently filter large volumes of high protein concentration solutions, which are typically problematic for traditional types of virus removal filters, particularly those with flat membranes.

The key features of Planova™ BioEX filters are as follows:

1. Optimized for filtration under high protein concentrations.
2. Suited to high pressure filtration.
3. SIP (steam in place) compatible.
4. Superior validated virus filtration performance, even with small parvoviruses.
5. Various filter surface area sizes, making for easy scale up or scale down.

About Asahi Kasei Medical

Asahi Kasei Medical is the global market leader in virus filtration products. Cellulose hollow fiber Planova™ virus removal filters from Asahi Kasei Medical have an unrivalled 20 year history of trusted use in the production of biotherapeutics, and Asahi Kasei TechniKrom, Inc. (a wholly owned US subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Medical) offers an innovative line-up of equipment solutions for bioprocessing, including chromatography equipment, in-line buffer dilution systems and virus filtration and integrity test skids.

Asahi Kasei Medical’s current business in the bioprocess field is centered on Planova™ filters and filtration systems for virus removal in the production of biopharmaceuticals.

The integration of TechniKrom’s business will enable Asahi Kasei Medical to offer a wide range of novel bioprocess separation media, equipment, and systems – advancing technology for the production of high-quality biopharmaceuticals.

Medical-related operations are a focus for strategic expansion under the Asahi Kasei Group’s Growth Action – 2010 management initiative.
Asahi KaseiMedical’s Planova™ virus removal filters are highly regarded by pharmaceuticals manufacturers throughout the world for the outstanding viral safety they enable in bioprocess production, and are relied on in the production processes for a wide range of biotherapeutics.
Recent years have seen exceptionally strong growth in demand for biopharmaceuticals, whose active ingredients are typically proteins produced using genetic engineering, cell culture, and other biotechnology. Requirements for biopharmaceuticals production technology to enable higher quality and safety have risen commensurately.
Through the transaction announced today and with further investment of resources in the field of bioprocess technology, Asahi Kasei Medical will build on the Asahi Kasei Group’s core technologies in hollow-fibers and membrane adsorption, providing a wide range of bioprocess separation media which meet growing market needs.

TechniKrom is a leading supplier of equipment, systems, and services for the production of biopharmaceuticals with a growing market presence in key markets throughout the world from its base in North America, where biopharmaceuticals research and development is most advanced.
Asahi KaseiMedical has a longstanding alliance with TechniKrom in the commercialization of equipment for use with Planova™ filters.

Based on a shared vision for the growth and development of the combined bioprocess technology business moving forward, the combination of Asahi Kasei Medical’s separation media technology with TechniKrom’s bioprocess equipment and systems technology will meet customer needs for integrated bioprocess solutions.

For Asahi Kasei Medical, this integration of operations meets the following objectives:

• Enabling the provision of high-performance bioprocess systems based on synergies between Asahi Kasei Medical’s membrane technology and TechniKrom’s bioprocess equipment technology.
•  Advancing the worldwide expansion of bioprocess operations with a base for the development, production, and sale of equipment and systems in the US, the world’s leading biopharmaceuticals market.

Corporate profiles

Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
President: Yasuyuki Yoshida
Head office: Tokyo, Japan
Establishment: October 1, 2007
Shareholding: 100% by Asahi Kasei Corp.
Main products: Planova™ virus removal filters, Sepacell? leukocyte reduction filters

TechniKrom, Inc.
President: Louis Bellafiore
Head office: Glenview, IL, USA
Establishment: February 14, 1994
Main products: Bioprocess equipment and systems

http://technikrom.com/

Outline of the new spinning plant
Location: Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan
Capacity: 40,000 m²/year (raising total to 70,000 m²/year)
Investment: ˜¥4.2 billion
Groundbreaking: April 2008
Completion: March 2009

Corporate profile of Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd.
President: Yasuyuki Yoshida
Establishment: October 2007*
Paid-in capital: ¥200 million
Shareholding: 100% by Asahi Kasei Pharma
Head office: Tokyo, Japan
Business line: Development, production, and sale of Sepacell™ leukocyte reduction filters
for transfusion and Planova™ virus removal filters
Production facilities:
Oita – Sepacell™ plant
Nobeoka – Planova™ hollow-fiber membrane spinning plant, Planova™ filter module
assembly plant
Employees: 400 (as of Oct. 31, 2007)

* Sepacell™  and Planova™  businesses separated from the former Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd. at the
time of its reorganization to focus on hemodialysis and therapeutic apheresis products with the
company name changed to Asahi Kasei Kuraray Medical Co., Ltd.