TOT Biopharm opens cancer drug plant in Suzhou, China

Taiwan's TOT Biopharm has opened in mainland China the first phase of what it says is a $100 million plant for developing and manufacturing cancer drugs for the global market. The factory complex is in eastern China's Suzhou Industrial Park. The company said the project has been supported by both countries. The 50,000-square-meter facility will specialize in producing liposomal technology-based specialty drugs and biologics. The first phase includes an oral anti-cancer drug plant with separate production facilities for cytotoxics and noncytotoxics, an injected anti-cancer drug plant and a GMP bio pilot plant with a 500-liter capacity, cell culture manufacturing, purification and filling. The second phase of the project, which is getting under way, will take the entire operation to production scale manufacturing, the company said. China has been trying to help its domestic producers stay viable and grow even as Big Pharma has been building development and manufacturing capacity, or partnering with local players, in what promises to be a very large, if very challenging market. Release | More