Piramal Pharma Solutions and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening capabilities in the rapidly growing field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a promising class of targeted cancer therapies.
The partnership is designed to create a more integrated ecosystem for pharmaceutical companies developing ADCs by combining Piramal’s extensive manufacturing expertise with Ajinomoto’s proprietary AJICAP™ technology. Under the agreement, Piramal will refer clients seeking ADC manufacturing technologies to Ajinomoto, particularly those interested in leveraging AJICAP™, while Ajinomoto will direct customers to Piramal as a preferred contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for producing therapies using this platform.
As part of the collaboration, both companies plan to execute a separate Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), which will enable the transfer of AJICAP™ technology to Piramal. This step is expected to equip Piramal with the technical know-how, specialized capabilities, and trained personnel required to manufacture AJICAP™-based products with enhanced precision and efficiency.
Piramal brings significant experience to the partnership, having established itself as a pioneer in ADC manufacturing. The company is recognized as the world’s first CDMO to support an FDA-approved ADC and has spent more than two decades building expertise in the space. Its global network of advanced manufacturing facilities has supported the development of hundreds of ADC candidates and the production of thousands of batches, including multiple commercial products. Recent expansions are further boosting its large-scale manufacturing capacity.
Ajinomoto’s AJICAP™ platform, on the other hand, focuses on site-specific conjugation, a technique that allows for more controlled and consistent attachment of drug payloads to antibodies. This approach is designed to improve therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity, addressing key challenges in ADC development. The technology is particularly valuable for early-stage drug developers seeking streamlined and reproducible processes.
Industry experts note that integrating AJICAP™ with Piramal’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) capabilities could significantly accelerate development timelines, simplify technology transfer, and enable smoother scale-up from clinical to commercial production.
Peter DeYoung, CEO of Piramal Global Pharma, emphasized that the collaboration will enhance the company’s ADC platform and expand access to advanced manufacturing solutions for customers worldwide. Meanwhile, Yasuyuki Otake of Ajinomoto highlighted that the partnership strengthens the support network for AJICAP™ users, providing a clearer pathway from early development to commercialization.
As demand for targeted oncology therapies continues to rise, the collaboration positions both companies to play a pivotal role in enabling the efficient development and manufacturing of next-generation ADC treatments.