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Turkey partners with South Korean firm to build national CAR-T therapy manufacturing
🇰🇷 South Korea /Economy & Trade

Turkey partners with South Korean firm to build national CAR-T therapy manufacturing

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Turkey is establishing its own CAR-T cell therapy manufacturing system by collaborating with South Korean biotech venture QurCell.
  • The Turkish vice president directly proposed the project, leading QurCell's CEO to relocate to Turkey to lead the initiative.
  • The national project aims to transfer not only manufacturing technology and quality control but also the supply chain and future R&D capabilities to Turkey, fostering self-sufficiency in the field.

Turkey is embarking on a national project to achieve self-sufficiency in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy manufacturing, partnering with South Korean biotech firm QurCell. The initiative represents a significant move to bring advanced biotechnology capabilities into the country.

Muhammet Abil Viruni, CEO of QurCell, revealed that the project was initiated by a direct proposal from the Vice President of Turkey several years ago. This high-level interest prompted Viruni to move from the UK to Turkey to personally oversee the venture.

The collaboration goes beyond simple technology transfer. Turkey aims to fully integrate QurCell's manufacturing technology, quality management systems, and supply chain. Furthermore, the project includes the transfer of future research and development capabilities, positioning Turkey to become a leader in CAR-T therapy.

A few years ago, the Vice President of Turkey directly proposed this project. At the time, I was living in the UK, but I immediately moved to Turkey to start working.

— Muhammet Abil ViruniCEO of QurCell, explaining the origins of the national CAR-T therapy project in Turkey.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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