Last October, at the biannual Bioprocess International Conference & Exhibition (BPI), exhibitors had focused their efforts on three ongoing trends affecting the industry: the emergence of continuous processing, the move towards single-use technologies and the focus on improved process productivity. Single-use technologies (disposable bioreactors made of plastic, for example) are beneficial in contamination prevention, and, by extension, they reduce cleaning costs. When a scientist disposes of a reactor after each use — it eliminates any chance of cross-contamination thereby vastly reducing the time and effort required to test for and identify contaminated batches. Normally, bioreactors and their accessories need to go through an autoclaving process both before and after fermentation to prevent contamination and allow for the disposal of used products. This process is lengthy and consumes high volumes of water. Alternatively, with single-use instruments, manufacturers can be cost-efficient while conserving water. Unfortunately, the largest drawback of single-unit products is a significant drop in efficiency between upstream and downstream processes, which brings us to the effort of improving continuous processing. Here, we reflect on some of the advancements within the last year that have tried to achieve some of these goals as well as highlight notable collaborations and events.

The Science Advisory Board has been working hard to understand how these trends have impacted the bioprocessing industry. As we started to compile information, we noted several significant obstacles still exist to implement commercial continuous processing, including the conservative nature of the pharmaceutical industry, and the development of other enabling devices that allow for real-time monitoring and control of the process.

Mettler-Toldeo InPro 5000i CO₂ Sensor

• Pall, a leader in bioprocessing, introduced the Cadence BioSMB platform at BPI. It employs a unique single-use eight column system architecture, enabling a highly flexible flow configuration for continuous processing.
• At-line or in-line sensors used to monitor the process were also showcased at BPI. Mettler-Toledo, demonstrated an in-line liquid phase dCO2 sensor, the InPro 5000i, capable of real-time measurements critical for enabling continuous upstream processing.
• Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s BIOSTAT STR bioreactor product line allows for more rapid direct linear scale-up of fermentation processes.
• In March 2018, MilliporeSigma signed a memorandum of understanding with Schneider Electric that aims to automate biopharmaceutical processes for China’s biopharmaceutical industry.

We found the movement towards improving single-unit technology had stirred much activity as well:

• Last November, GE Healthcare Life Sciences’ BioProcess business acquired Puridify. Puridify’s FibroSelect nano-scale single-use purification technology is designed to improve process development and small-scale manufacturing, with faster mass transfer, scalability, and ease of use.
• In January 2018, Pall announced a newly named business unit, Pall Biotech, within Pall Life Sciences. Pall Biotech’s portfolio consists of standard configurable single-use, stainless steel and hybrid technologies for fed-batch and continuous processes across upstream, downstream, and formulation and filling applications.
• Pall’s collaboration with Artesyn Biosolutions announced in April 2018, a co-development project for complete solutions from clinical to commercial scale for single-use automated bioprocessing systems.

Amongst others, these were noteworthy efforts toward enhancing process productivity and general advancements:

MabSelect PrismA Protein A column

• GE Healthcare displayed their MabSelect PrismA Protein A column, which is capable of a 40% improvement in mAb purification capacity.
• MilliporeSigma’s Eshmuno P anti-A and anti-B affinity resins used in the purification of Immunoglobulin products.
• In April, Merck KGaA partnered with Oxford University’s Jenner Institute to develop more robust and scalable vaccine manufacturing processes. The partners will improve the manufacturing process for adenovirus vaccines using Merck products, systems and technologies on a real-­world feed stream.
• In June 2018 we saw Schneider Electric release its new FXI Series 7 Process GC. It enables multiple detectors and ovens to be utilized simultaneously to decrease analysis time.
• RoosterBio joined the new NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), which aims to enable scalable manufacturing and broad use of potentially curative therapies that utilize living cells as drugs.
• In August, Gyros Protein Technologies introduced the Gyrolab CHO-HCP E3G Kit for impurity analysis in the CMC (chemistry manufacturing and controls) bioprocess workflow of biotherapeutics. The kits were developed as part of its licensing and supply agreement with Cygnus Technologies, using Cygnus’ 3G CHO-HCP ELISA reagents.

As you can see, the bioprocessing industry is one full of recent developments, technological improvements, and scientific opportunity. What are your thoughts on these new trends? Join the discussion in our forums.