Medigen Biotechnology Corp. has signed an Agreement for Research Collaboration with Singapore’s A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute (A*STAR BTI in Singapore today (February 5, 2026).
The collaboration will focus on addressing two critical bottlenecks of cell therapies industry: automated manufacturing and the development of off-the-shelf products.
Under the agreement, Medigen will contribute its independently developed automated cell expansion system, ACE™, along with related technologies. A*STAR BTI will leverage its established technology platforms for feeder-free natural killer (NK) cell culture and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) expansion. The research program will be jointly led by Associate Professor Andy Tan and Dr. Alan Lam and their respective teams at A*STAR BTI. By integrating the complementary strengths of both parties, the collaboration aims to address technical challenges in large-scale automated production and off-the-shelf cell therapy development, thereby accelerating the clinical and commercial application of cell therapies.
Medigen has achieved significant milestones in the field of cell therapy, including the successful development of its NK cell therapy, Magicell®-NK, which has been approved under Taiwan’s Application of Specific Medical Examination Techniques and Medical Devices and applied in the treatment of cancer patients. Currently, Medigen is conducting two Phase I clinical trials using the Magicell®-NK platform: one evaluating autologous Magicell®-NK for the treatment of colorectal cancer, and the other evaluating allogeneic Magicell®-NK for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Through this strategic collaboration with A*STAR BTI, Medigen aims to further build a comprehensive cell therapy ecosystem and expand its research, development, and commercialization footprint across Southeast Asia.
About A*STAR BTI
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore’s lead public sector R&D agency, dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and industry through open innovation. A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute (A*STAR BTI) focuses on developing innovative research capabilities and advanced biomanufacturing technologies, and serves as a key research hub supporting Singapore’s biotechnology industry.