News release overview
Hitachi’s new cell design platform, which integrates digital and biotechnology, will streamline drug discovery for cell and gene therapy
Generating value through the technology evaluation and co-creation with pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups and academia for overcoming cancer and intractable diseases
Figure 1. Hitachi’s original DBTL cycle by means of gene sequence generative AI and high-throughput screening technology
Tokyo, May 13, 2025 Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, "Hitachi") has newly developed “DesignCell® development platform” technology combining digital and biotechnology, in support of pharmaceutical companies and biotech startups engaged in the generation of cell and gene therapy medications.*1 The platform uses generative AI to design gene sequences, and links to high-throughput cell screening, raising the number of cells that can be designed and evaluated from a few tens of cells per year currently to 100,000 cells per year with this system. It is expected to shorten the time needed for exploratory research in development of cell therapy products, especially support efficient development of CAR-T cells*2 for safe and highly effective cancer treatment.
Working with pharmaceutical companies and academia, Hitachi will seek to evaluate the effectiveness of the technology and contribute to overcoming cancer and other intractable diseases.
The results of this development project are to be presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) being held in New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) from May 13 to 17, 2025.
*1 Various pharmaceutical products that use cells and genes to treat diseases.
*2 Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells: T cells that have been genetically modified to attack cancer cells. T cells play a key role in the immune system, fighting viruses and cancer cells to protect the body.
