By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : April 07, 2025 3:56 pm
Sumitomo Chemical began its nucleic acid drug substance contract manufacturing business in 2013
Sumitomo Chemical established a new company, Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Medical Solutions America LLC (SC-AMSA), in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the United States. This company will serve as a CRO*1 for Sumitomo Chemical’s Oligonucleotide CDMO2 business. SC-AMSA plans to begin providing samples to customers by August 2025.
Sumitomo Chemical began its nucleic acid drug substance contract manufacturing business in 2013. Recently, it has focused on the large scale production of long-chain oligonucleotides called gRNA, which are necessary for genome editing therapy. The Company has established the world’s first technology to produce at scale long-chain gRNAs that are several times longer (approximately 100 mer) than conventional nucleic acid drug substances, with high purity of approximately 90% and high yield A new manufacturing plant for the gRNA was established at Sumitomo Chemical’s Oita Works in Japan, and shipments to multiple customers began in fiscal 2024.
SC-AMSA is located in Marlborough, which is close to Boston, Massachusetts, where there is a large concentration of drug discovery start-up companies with high demand for gRNA. Sumitomo Chemical will provide gRNA samples from this strategically located new company to closely communicate with customers and promptly respond to their needs.
Sumitomo Chemical will work to enhance SC-AMSA’s functions and operations as a foothold to develop its Oligonucleotide CDMO business in the United States, the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. The company will also explore the possibility of business expansion to grow its advanced small molecule drug CDMO business and regenerative medicine and cell therapy business in the United States.