Culture changes – FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific’s COO on cell therapy, COVID vaccines and 50 years of the company

From animal processing, to cell therapy and AI, Tim Mullane, president, and chief operating officer tells pharmaphorum how FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific has evolved to become one of the top manufacturers of cell culture media.

Although Irvine Scientific joined parent company Fujifilm in 2018, its roots can be traced back to the 1970s, where it started life as a bovine and animal serum processing company.

Founded by three people working in the medical diagnostic business, the Japan Energy Company (JEC) acquired a majority stake in the firm in the mid-80s.

Less than a decade later, it acquired a portion of Hana Biologicals, one of the first manufacturers of serum-free media for Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) formulations and what is now considered the gold standard for biologics production.

It was this acquisition that paved the way for the company’s focus on cell culture, says Tim Mullane. As chief operating officer, Mullane has supported rapid expansion of the business as it branches into new geographies and business areas including the cell therapy market.

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