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Leong J, Tang WQ, Chng J, Ler WX, Manan NA, Sim LC, Zheng ZY, Zhang W, Walsh I, Zijlstra G, Pennings M, Ng SK. Biomass specific perfusion rate as a control lever for the continuous manufacturing of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies from CHO cell cultures. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2400092. [PMID: 38987222 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202400092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Continuous manufacturing enables high volumetric productivities of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies. However, it is challenging to maintain both high viable cell densities and productivities at the same time for long culture durations. One of the key controls in a perfusion process is the perfusion rate which determines the nutrient availability and potentially controls the cell metabolism. Cell Specific Perfusion Rate (CSPR) is a feed rate proportional to the viable cell density while Biomass Specific Perfusion Rate (BSPR) is a feed rate proportional to the biomass (cell volume multiply by cell density). In this study, perfusion cultures were run at three BSPRs in the production phase. Low BSPR favored a growth arresting state that led to gradual increase in cell volume, which in turn led to an increase in net perfusion rate proportional to the increase in cell volume. Consequently, at low BSPR, while the cell viability and cell density decreased, high specific productivity of 55 pg per cell per day was achieved. In contrast, the specific productivity was lower in bioreactors operating at a high BSPR. The ability to modulate the cell metabolism by using BSPR was confirmed when the specific productivity increased after lowering the BSPR in one of the bioreactors that was initially operating at a high BSPR. This study demonstrated that BSPR significantly influenced cell growth, metabolism, and productivity in cultures with variable cell volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Leong
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wen Qin Tang
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jake Chng
- BiosanaProcess Pte. Ltd., Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wei Xuan Ler
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | | | - Lyn Chiin Sim
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zi Ying Zheng
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Wei Zhang
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ian Walsh
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Gerben Zijlstra
- Sartorius Stedim Netherlands B.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Say Kong Ng
- Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore
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Romann P, Schneider S, Tobler D, Jordan M, Perilleux A, Souquet J, Herwig C, Bielser JM, Villiger TK. Raman-controlled pyruvate feeding to control metabolic activity and product quality in continuous biomanufacturing. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300318. [PMID: 37897126 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite technological advances ensuring stable cell culture perfusion operation over prolonged time, reaching a cellular steady-state metabolism remains a challenge for certain manufacturing cell lines. This study investigated the stabilization of a steady-state perfusion process producing a bispecific antibody with drifting product quality attributes, caused by shifting metabolic activity in the cell culture. MAIN METHODS A novel on-demand pyruvate feeding strategy was developed, leveraging lactate as an indicator for tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle saturation. Real-time lactate monitoring was achieved through in-line Raman spectroscopy, enabling accurate control at predefined target setpoints. MAJOR RESULTS The implemented feedback control strategy resulted in a three-fold reduction of ammonium accumulation and stabilized product quality profiles. Stable and flat glycosylation profiles were achieved with standard deviations below 0.2% for high mannose and fucosylation. Whereas galactosylation and sialylation were stabilized in a similar manner, varying lactate setpoints might allow for fine-tuning of these glycan forms. IMPLICATION The Raman-controlled pyruvate feeding strategy represents a valuable tool for continuous manufacturing, stabilizing metabolic activity, and preventing product quality drifting in perfusion cell cultures. Additionally, this approach effectively reduced high mannose, helping to mitigate increases associated with process intensification, such as extended culture durations or elevated culture densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Romann
- Institute for Pharma Technology, School of Life Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
- Research Division Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian Schneider
- Institute for Pharma Technology, School of Life Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Tobler
- Institute for Pharma Technology, School of Life Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Martin Jordan
- Biotech Process Science, Merck Serono SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Perilleux
- Biotech Process Science, Merck Serono SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Souquet
- Biotech Process Science, Merck Serono SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Herwig
- Research Division Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jean-Marc Bielser
- Biotech Process Science, Merck Serono SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
| | - Thomas K Villiger
- Institute for Pharma Technology, School of Life Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
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Drobnjakovic M, Hart R, Kulvatunyou BS, Ivezic N, Srinivasan V. Current challenges and recent advances on the path towards continuous biomanufacturing. Biotechnol Prog 2023; 39:e3378. [PMID: 37493037 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Continuous biopharmaceutical manufacturing is currently a field of intense research due to its potential to make the entire production process more optimal for the modern, ever-evolving biopharmaceutical market. Compared to traditional batch manufacturing, continuous bioprocessing is more efficient, adjustable, and sustainable and has reduced capital costs. However, despite its clear advantages, continuous bioprocessing is yet to be widely adopted in commercial manufacturing. This article provides an overview of the technological roadblocks for extensive adoptions and points out the recent advances that could help overcome them. In total, three key areas for improvement are identified: Quality by Design (QbD) implementation, integration of upstream and downstream technologies, and data and knowledge management. First, the challenges to QbD implementation are explored. Specifically, process control, process analytical technology (PAT), critical process parameter (CPP) identification, and mathematical models for bioprocess control and design are recognized as crucial for successful QbD realizations. Next, the difficulties of end-to-end process integration are examined, with a particular emphasis on downstream processing. Finally, the problem of data and knowledge management and its potential solutions are outlined where ontologies and data standards are pointed out as key drivers of progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milos Drobnjakovic
- Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Roger Hart
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Boonserm Serm Kulvatunyou
- Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Nenad Ivezic
- Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Vijay Srinivasan
- Systems Integration Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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Matanguihan C, Wu P. Upstream continuous processing: recent advances in production of biopharmaceuticals and challenges in manufacturing. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102828. [PMID: 36332340 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Upstream continuous processing, or most commonly perfusion processing, for biopharmaceutical production, is emerging as a feasible and viable manufacturing approach. Development in production of recombinant therapeutic proteins as well as viral vectors, vaccines, and cell therapy products, has numerous research publications that came out in previous years. Recent research areas are in perfusion-operation strategies maximizing and controlling bioreactor cell density, adding feed solution designed to supplement basal medium feed stream, combining cell line engineering with bioreactor conditions such as hypoxia, and implementing online process monitoring of cell density by capacitance sensor and metabolites by Raman spectroscopy. Perfusion applications are not limited to production process alone but include other upstream areas where high cell density process is essential such as in cell bank preparation, N-1 seed bioreactor, and combination with intensified fed-batch production process. This review covers recent advances in continuous processing over the last two years for biopharmaceutical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cary Matanguihan
- Bayer U.S. LLC, Pharmaceuticals, Biologics Development, 800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94701, USA.
| | - Paul Wu
- Bayer U.S. LLC, Pharmaceuticals, Biologics Development, 800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94701, USA
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