Agilent Technologies Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute, Singapore (ACTRIS), to develop cell and gene therapy advancement over the next three years. 

The new partnership sets out to install and operate Agilent’s xCELLigence real-time cell analyzer, Seahorse XF technology, and other cell analysis portfolio in Singapore’s largest national cell and gene therapy process development and manufacturing facility at ACTRIS. The partnership also enables early access to Agilent’s new cell analysis platform that may be fundamental in developing cellular therapies for marketing authorization.

Agilent’s state-of-the-art cell-based potency assays and metabolic analysis technologies will facilitate scientists in developing next-generation therapeutics and new application discoveries to potentially increase patients’ access to cell-based therapies across the broad spectrum of immunotherapy and precision medicine. 

"ACTRIS partnership with Agilent will allow our partners access to Agilent's state-of-the-art product characterization technologies," said A/Prof Danny Soon, Interim Executive Director of ACTRIS and CEO of CRIS.

Chow Woai Sheng, Singapore General Manager and Vice President of Global Instrument Manufacturing at Agilent, said, “Collaboration with ACTRIS aims to augment the nation’s role as a leading cell and gene therapy manufacturer and clinical services through enabling translational research and development”. 

Singapore is Agilent's Asia Pacific Regional Center for more than 20 years spread across 172,000 square foot facility that includes a manufacturing facility accredited for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Agilent University, and a Global Solutions Development Center where its local scientists develop integrated workflows and novel applications for projects both locally and regionally.

Photo caption: (left) Associate Professor Danny Soon, Interim Executive Director of ACTRIS and CEO of Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS) and Executive Director of the Singapore Clinical Research Institute; and (Right) Chow Woai Sheng, Singapore General Manager and Vice President of Global Instrument Manufacturing of Agilent