GC Cell's 'Immuncell LC' Ventures into Indonesian Market

GC Cell (GCsel) announced on the 19th that it has signed a strategic partnership memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PT Bifarma, a subsidiary of PT Kalbe Farma, the largest pharmaceutical group in Southeast Asia, for the entry of Immuncell LC Injection into the Indonesian market.

James Park, CEO of GC Cell (left), and Jimmy Susanto, Director of Bifarma, are posing for a commemorative photo. [Photo by GC Cell]

This MOU between the two companies aims to discuss strategic cooperation related to the entry of the autologous immune cell therapy Immuncell LC Injection into the Indonesian market, technology transfer, and the pipeline of natural killer (NK) cell therapies currently under development.

Bifarma is recognized as a leading company in the stem cell therapy field in Indonesia. It possesses the first pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Indonesia that meets Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and is a specialized cell therapy company with capabilities in research, development, and commercialization of cell therapies. Its parent company, the Kalbe Group, is the largest pharmaceutical group in Southeast Asia with a market capitalization of approximately 7 trillion KRW and achieved sales of about 2.5 trillion KRW last year.

The Indonesian healthcare market shows high growth potential due to the largest population in Southeast Asia and the introduction of universal healthcare services. In particular, early market entry and potential marketability in the autologous cell therapy sector are expected to be high. Through collaboration with the Kalbe Group, which has cold chain (refrigerated and frozen transport) infrastructure and a major hospital and clinic network locally, it is anticipated that Immuncell LC Injection can achieve rapid overseas business success.

James Park, CEO of GC Cell, said, “We have taken the first step to have GC Cell’s cell therapy capabilities and expertise recognized in the global market. By combining GC Cell’s integrated value chain capabilities in the entire process of cell and gene therapy development with Bifarma’s status and capabilities in the Indonesian market, we will be able to quickly secure a leading position in the rapidly emerging next-generation cancer cell therapy sector locally.”

Sandy Klintang, CEO of Bifarma, also said, “We are pleased to sign an MOU with GC Cell, a leading Korean cell and gene therapy company. This strategic cooperation is an important milestone for both companies and will strengthen our mission to provide safe, high-quality advanced cell therapies to patients.”