PHILADELPHIA, PA — Japanese biotechnology company CellFiber Co., Ltd. established its first international subsidiary in Philadelphia on October 1, 2026, creating a U.S. laboratory and commercial operation to support the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies.
The Tokyo-based company opened CellFiber, Inc. at CIC Philadelphia, positioning itself to work directly with American pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology developers, contract manufacturers and research institutions.
The expansion targets a central challenge in the cell therapy industry: producing therapeutic cells consistently and at sufficient scale while controlling manufacturing costs and meeting regulatory quality standards.
CellFiber develops three-dimensional cell culture and bioprocessing technology designed for the production of cell-based treatments, including therapies involving induced pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and genetically modified immune cells.
Its proprietary CellFiber technology supports closed-system manufacturing processes intended to reduce contamination risks and enable larger-scale cell production.
The Philadelphia facility will provide technical support, process development, manufacturing scale-up assistance and collaborative research for U.S. customers adopting the company’s technology.
CellFiber introduced its Zeito Plus System in December 2025 as part of its preparations to enter the American market. Previously known as the CellFiber Extruder, the system is designed to produce cell fibers through a process compatible with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
The company’s U.S. expansion places it within Philadelphia’s established cell and gene therapy industry, which includes research institutions and biotechnology companies involved in developing advanced treatments.
“Being here allows us to work directly with the teams developing cell therapies, bringing them CellFiber technology and partnering with them on research and process development,” said Kazuchika Furuishi, president and chief executive officer of CellFiber.
Furuishi described the Philadelphia operation as the starting point for the company’s international expansion.
The new subsidiary will focus on commercial adoption and technical collaboration, connecting CellFiber’s manufacturing technology with U.S. developers seeking to advance cell therapies from laboratory research toward commercial production.
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