Merck has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cyto-Facto Inc., a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) focused on cell and gene therapies, to support the development and manufacturing of cell and gene therapies (CGT) in the Asia-Pacific region.

The collaboration focuses on building a robust lentiviral production platform for gene therapy applications. Under the agreement, Merck’s VirusExpress™ 293T Lentiviral Production Cells will support scalable process development and manufacturing in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant environments.

As part of the collaboration, Merck India will facilitate structured knowledge exchange and customer engagement initiatives to strengthen platform readiness. The company will also introduce Cyto-Facto to cell and gene therapy companies in India seeking specialized lentiviral CDMO services.

“By combining process development expertise across Japan and India, Merck is helping strengthen lentiviral manufacturing capabilities in the Asia Pacific region,” said Tony Budianto Bee, Head of Process Solutions APAC and Interim Head of Process Solutions India. “In India, this MoU will also help connect emerging CGT companies move promising therapies forward and support faster access to high-quality gene therapies for patients.”

The partnership also includes support for manufacturing scale-up, technical training, and process optimization through Merck’s M Lab™ Collaboration Centers across APAC.

“To improve the health of patients in need of CGT therapies, we are committed to the reliable manufacturing of CGT products,” said Yasunori Ishibashi, CEO of Cyto-Facto. “Through our collaboration with Merck, we aim to contribute to a healthier society by delivering promising CGT therapies for a wide range of diseases in Japan and globally to patients in a timely and reliable manner.”