Using undifferentiated plant cells from the Yew tree (Genera taxus), Hokkaido Mitsui Chemicals has developed an 800 L single-use bag reactor for their cultivation. In order to prevent the slowly propagating cells from settling down, a special tube was installed at the bottom leading to circulated water flow without using an agitator. Cultured yew cells proliferation was equivalent to that in flasks and eliminated the need for a control unit for the agitator blades. As a result, the cost of equipment was reduced to about one tenth of that of a stainless steel culture tank. The project was supported by NEDO, the project house of METI. The setup is used to produce 10 deacetylbaccatin III, an intermediate for the synthesis of taxane, an anticancer drug.

Mistsui Chemicals news release, February 18, 2021

NEDO news release, February 18, 2021