Japan’s Asahi Kasei to produce more membranes for Planova filters

July 26, 2021 - Japan

Asahi Kasei Medical, leader in virus filtration, is enhancing production capacity for hydrophilic PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) hollow-fibre membranes for Planova BioEX filters at its spinning plant in Oita, Japan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for Planova filters, which are needed to develop and mass-produce anti-coronavirus agents, has increased.

Asahi Kasei Medical will double spinning production capacity at this site by utilising its state-of-the-art technology. The capacity increase is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2022.

As for the Planova N series filters made with cellulose hollow-fibre membranes, all six existing plants, including the spinning plant completed in 2019 in Miyazaki, Japan, have been operating efficiently and without any disruption to meet the increasing demand worldwide.

Asahi Kasei Medical is the global market leader in virus filtration, with its Planova filters having a 30-year history of use in the production of biotherapeutics. Asahi Kasei Medical aims to provide “Assurance Beyond Expectation” in the form of innovative yet exceptionally reliable bioprocess consumables, equipment, scientific support, and biosafety testing services to help biologics manufacturers safely and efficiently produce medicines that patients can trust.

Asahi Kasei Medical will continue to reinforce its global supply infrastructure for Planova through investments in manufacturing facilities in order to support the early provision of vaccines and life-saving therapies to as many people as possible, the company said.