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Park M, Safford M, Scheers J, Hammill L, Pleitez D, Jerbi T, Koudji EM, Yelity S, Campion S, Miller MM, Gibb SL, Sargent A. Automation preserves product consistency and quality for the formulation, fill, and finish of T cell-based therapies. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00798-9. [PMID: 39078352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Scaling up the manufacture of cell therapies can be complex and challenging. Maintaining critical quality attributes of the cell product during its final formulation and fill-finish into multiple containers can be especially difficult and laborious. Here, we tested the automated Finia™ Fill and Finish System to efficiently scale up the formulation and fill-finish of a T cell product, and then assessed cell quality and product consistency across different sub-lots filled during this expanded process. We found that this automated system could be effectively scaled to 4 times its singular capacity in a 2-h time interval, with variation in cell number and product volume less than 12% across all containers. Analysis of the different sub-lots of the final product revealed high cell viability and consistent T cell phenotype, with a high proportion of effector memory and central memory T cells and low expression of T cell senescence and exhaustion markers. The functionality of the T cell product was compared by measuring cytokine response after restimulation, with secreted levels of effector cytokines like IFN-γ and TNF-α being similar across the different sub-lots. Collectively, these results show that automation can scale up the formulation and fill-finish of a cell manufacturing process while maintaining the phenotype and functionality of the cell product. Better understanding of how to maintain product uniformity and quality during final manufacturing is important to the further scale-up and development of successful cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minsung Park
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Meredith Safford
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Jade Scheers
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Lora Hammill
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Despina Pleitez
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Terri Jerbi
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Eyram Marcelle Koudji
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Shanelle Yelity
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Campion
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA
| | - Mindy M Miller
- Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies Inc., Lakewood, Colarado, USA
| | - Stuart L Gibb
- Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies Inc., Lakewood, Colarado, USA
| | - Alex Sargent
- Process and Assay Development, Cell and Gene Therapy, Charles River Laboratories, Hanover, Maryland, USA.
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Ayala Ceja M, Khericha M, Harris CM, Puig-Saus C, Chen YY. CAR-T cell manufacturing: Major process parameters and next-generation strategies. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230903. [PMID: 38226974 PMCID: PMC10791545 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have demonstrated strong curative potential and become a critical component in the array of B-cell malignancy treatments. Successful deployment of CAR-T cell therapies to treat hematologic and solid cancers, as well as other indications such as autoimmune diseases, is dependent on effective CAR-T cell manufacturing that impacts not only product safety and efficacy but also overall accessibility to patients in need. In this review, we discuss the major process parameters of autologous CAR-T cell manufacturing, as well as regulatory considerations and ongoing developments that will enable the next generation of CAR-T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Ayala Ceja
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mobina Khericha
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Caitlin M. Harris
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cristina Puig-Saus
- Department of Medicine, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Center at University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yvonne Y. Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Center at University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California−Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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