Cryoport, a leading global provider of innovative temperature-controlled supply chain solutions to the life sciences including clinical research, pharmaceutical and cell and gene therapy markets, and Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation, Japan's leading pharma logistics company, announced a multi-year strategic business alliance to create an integrated regenerative medicine supply chain partnership in Japan.

Cryoport and MLC will partner to create synergistic value by leveraging each other's global logistics networks. The partnership will provide integrated, end-to-end distribution solutions for speciality cell and gene therapies that demand stringent temperature control, track and trace systems and global distribution. MLC has chosen to adopt Cryoport's unique and proprietary temperature-controlled and traceability solutions to meet the increasing demand for cell and gene therapy supply chain solutions and to strengthen its logistics capabilities.

Masao Fujikura, President, MLC said, "This strategic alliance will strengthen our ultra-low temperature-logistics services for our valued customers both domestically and internationally, utilising Cryoport's proprietary technologies for cell and gene materials."

Jerrell Shelton, CEO, Cryoport, said, "This strategic alliance furthers our expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. MLC and Cryoport will encourage the use of each other's network, infrastructure, knowledge and resources to enhance each other's operational performance and to generate value for customers in Japan and overseas to meet demand from the increasing number of cell and gene therapies currently in development and expected to launch in coming years. Combining both companies' strengths is expected to realise reliable and seamless distribution services for biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies in Japan and the APAC region."

A number of therapies supported by Cryoport have recently been approved in the APAC region, including Novartis' commercial therapy KYMRIAH, which is approved in Japan, Singapore and Australia and Bristol Myers Squibb's commercial therapy BREYANZI, which was approved in Japan. Cryoport is continuing to build out its position to support the growing number of commercial therapies in anticipation of the next wave of expected commercial approvals in the APAC region.