Improving efficiency and productivity in biologics manufacturing is a longstanding goal within today’s industry, especially now as new and increasingly complex molecules are fundamentally changing technological and operational approaches to drug development. Process intensification, using advanced techniques and high-productivity platforms, can speed up innovation. A promising method is N-1 perfusion, which boosts cell density used to start fed-batch cultures in production bioreactors, ultimately increasing product yield.
In a special report for BioProcess International, Ruth Rowland-Jones reports on Lonza’s success in creating a high inoculum density (HID) fed-batch culture process for Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. This involved advanced process analytical technologies (PATs) like capacitance probes and Raman spectroscopy for automated monitoring and adjusting of culture conditions and feed strategies. Compared with Lonza’s traditional methods, this intensified process improved monoclonal antibody (MAb) titers by 79% on average without affecting product quality, significantly reducing costs at commercial scales. HID fed-batch culture also increased yields of complex biotherapeutic formats, such as three- and four-chain bispecific antibodies.
Download the report to learn more about the benefits of intensified seed-train processes, critical parameters for N-1 stage perfusion cell culture, and the role of PATs in advanced production processes. Discover the flexible and comprehensive capabilities Lonza offers for various production scales and product types across its global manufacturing network.