Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Inaugural
Continuous Processing for Biopharmaceuticals
Overcoming the Practical Challenges of Continuous Processing
20-21 March 2018 | Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa | Lisbon, Portugal
On paper, continuous processing is the best route to reduce manufacturing costs and increase efficiencies, but what are the practical considerations when moving from fed batch to continuous processing? Which technology gaps still remain, how can companies ensure process control and stability, and where should companies be focusing resources and investments to ensure late-stage success?
Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Continuous Processing for Biopharmaceuticals conference focuses on the practical challenges of developing, integrating and implementing continuous processing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Key topics include process development from perfusion to purification, process control, robustness and monitoring, viral safety, cost analysis, and ramping up for commercialization, all in line with international regulations.
Final Agenda
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Monday 19, March
13:00 – 16:00 Recommended Short Course*
SC2: Continuous Processing Masterclass
The manufacture of biopharmaceuticals using semi- or fully continuous processes has the potential to improve product quality and increase the productivity of biomanufacturing facilities. This Short Course details the principles and practical challenges of implementing a continuous process strategy. Using examples and shared experiences, the course covers continuous processing definitions and drivers, technologies and processes, process development and control, and quality considerations.
Instructor: Margit Holzer, PhD, Owner, Ulysse Consult
* Separate registration required.
TUESDAY, 20 MARCH
7:00 Registration and Morning Coffee
8:25 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Alois Jungbauer, PhD, Professor, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
8:30 Continuous Processing for Vaccine Manufacturing - Challenges and Opportunities
Yan-Ping Yang, PhD, Head of Bioprocess Research & Development, North America, Sanofi Pasteur
Over the last decade there have been significant investments in continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, as it holds great promise to lead the reduction of process steps, smaller footprint, higher product quality, and better pharmaceuticals for patients. While it’s still in its early stage, the vaccine industry has embraced this concept and is ready to explore the full advantages associated with this approach. This presentation explores the challenges and opportunities to make continuous vaccine manufacturing a reality.
9:00 More Than 15 years of Continuous Processing using Chemostat Cultures - How to do Process Characterization
Daniel Fleischanderl, Associate Director, Upstream Process Development, Process Development & Technical Services, Shire
The talk will summarizes Shire´s almost unique approach using continuous chemostat cultures for routine commercial production of blood clotting factors. It describes the process, the technology and obstacles applying this approach. The main part will elaborate on process characterization studies done for continuous upstream processes.
9:30 High Cell Density Cryopreservation Media for Perfusion Processes
Jochen B. Sieck, PhD, Lab Head, Cell Culture Media R&D, Process Solutions R&D, Merck KGaA
For decades, batch-based processes dominated PD and manufacturing. But the market is changing, due to cost pressures, lower volume indications, and new drug formats and modalities. This requires more intensified and cost-effective processes, and more flexibility in manufacturing. We will present data how optimized cell culture media for perfusion allow for higher productivity, and high cell density cryopreservation can dramatically increase the flexibility of biopharma manufacturing.
10:00 Grand Opening Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
10:45 End-to-End Continuous Integrated Manufacturing of Therapeutic Proteins
Moritz Wolf, Researcher, The Morbidelli Group, ETH Zürich
Continuous manufacturing of therapeutic proteins describes a novel paradigm in the production of biopharmaceuticals resulting in improved volumetric productivity and product quality. These advantages are considered to alleviate regulatory issues and increased the interest in the integration of continuous unit operations. This study evaluates the performance of mammalian cell perfusion processes as part of an end-to-end integrated production stream and compares product quality in continuous integrated and batch production units.
11:15 Perfusion Strategies for Glycoproteins
Vicky Goralczyk, PhD, Scientist USP, Glycotope GmbH
Difficult to express proteins pose certain challenges to established mammalian production systems. We propose tackling these challenges by implementing continuous processing and choosing a suitable cell line. Supporting case study data from clone and upstream perfusion development will be presented for challenging proteins such as a non-antibody glycoprotein or a rare antibody format protein.
11:45 Enhancing Bioproduct Knowledge and Bioprocess Understanding with In-Line IR Spectroscopy
Jim Cronin, PhD, Mettler Toledo AutoChem
Direct, in-line monitoring of key process parameters in Upstream and Downstream bioprocess operations provide information necessary to monitor and control operations in an effective manner. This presentation will provide an overview of the utility of insitu FTIR spectroscopy, inline particle characterization, morphology determination in Bioprocess Development and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Stages.
12:00 Label-Free Molecular Characterization for Regulated Environments
Tim Heiseler, PhD, Field Applications Specialist, Pall FortéBio
BLI has been widely adopted in early research and development. Now, with a comprehensive set of tools for compliance, this technology is gaining traction in process development and quality control. Discover the go-to solution providing versatility and flexibility necessary in development combined with rigor and simplicity needed in QC environments.
12:15 Luncheon Presentation: Development of a New Antibody-Drug Conjugate Diafiltration Process and Use of a Novel TFF Capsule
Eric Lacoste, Head, ADC Process Development Team, Bio-Organic, Sanofi
The generic ADC process is composed of at least three steps: chemical reactions in aqueous buffer (including some organic solvent); purification and formulation steps. This presentation will highlight TFF case studies during ADC purification process development within Sanofi, and will provide preliminary results using a novel single-use TFF capsule from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. This new device is designed to replace standard TFF cassettes, providing the same level of performance while offering improved process containment.
12:45 Session Break
13:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Margit Holzer, PhD, Scientific Director, Ulysse-Consult
13:35 Deposit Formation Control on Membrane Surfaces in Up- and Downstream Continuous Processing
Ulrich Kulozik, PhD, Chair, Food and Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University of Munich
Despite crossflow conditions retained material forms deposits on membranes surfaces, thus greatly impairing flux and transmission significantly. Continuous bioprocesses are therefore not under control. This presentation describes new methods for deposition control using novel membrane module concepts, including dynamic membranes, alternating and pulsed flow, gradient membranes and uniform transmembrane pressure mode. Cell retention in continuous lactic acid fermentation and fractionation of complex colloidal systems are used as examples.
14:05 Continuous Downstream Strategies for Future Processes
Helena Trnovec, PhD, Associate Scientist, Novartis
The aim of the talk is to present current manufacturing strategies of biologics and approaches, which are being evaluated within the nextBioPharmDSP project, next-generation biopharmaceutical downstream process, where the main focus is to develop fully integrated and continuous approach for purification of monoclonal antibodies. The specific topics on which the focus will be are different approaches for primary separation, continuous chromatography, several flow-through options for polishing steps and advanced analytical tools, which will enable in-line detection of quality.
14:35 Residence Time Distribution Process Monitoring, Control of Continuous Downstream Processing
Alois Jungbauer, PhD, Professor, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
In continuous biomanufacturing series unit operations are interconnected, often in batch under equilibrium conditions. Here an example is shown where a much wider operation range can be used compared to batch wise operation. It will be elaborated how the residence time distribution of an entire process chain influences the start up and shut down and how residence time distribution in the reactor will impart process control.
15:05 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
15:45 Improving Purification of Next-Generation Vaccines with Multicolumn Chromatography
Ricardo Jorge Sousa da Silva, PhD, Researcher, iBET
Novel biopharmaceutical products, such as vaccines and viral vectors, are a challenging task for downstream processing. Alternative purification strategies such as continuous chromatography, are regarded nowadays as enabling technologies to overcome the capacity bottleneck in biomanufacturing. The current talk will focus on the steps followed towards the development of multi-column chromatographic systems aimed at the purification of gene therapy vectors and enveloped virus-like particles for vaccine applications.
16:15 Novel Single-Column Simulated Moving-Bed Chromatography for Quasi-Continuous Biopurification
Abimaelle Chiberio, PhD Student, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
This system is a more compact, less expensive, and simpler-to-operate alternative to the SMB. The newly developed platform shares the benefits of SMB chromatography in that it not only gives significantly higher yields of purer product, but also enables processing more feed and thereby increasing the overall throughput. The single-column chromatograph can be easily integrated into the existing downstream processing platforms of complex biopharmaceuticals.
16:45 Breakout Discussion Groups
This session provides the opportunity to discuss a focused topic with peers from around the world in an open, collegial setting. Select from the list of topics available and join the moderated discussion to share ideas, gain insights, establish collaborations or commiserate about persistent challenges. Then continue the discussion as you head into the lively exhibit hall for information about the latest technologies.
Upstream Intensification Possibilities
Jochen B. Sieck, PhD, Lab Head, Cell Culture Media R&D, Process Solutions R&D, Merck KGaA
- Compared to a classical mAb processing template, what technologies are currently being used to intensify upstream manufacturing processes?
- Which of these are already used during process development?
- What technologies/case studies/… are missing to intensify upstream processes further?
Bioprocessing Strategies for Gene Therapies and VLPs
Alois Jungbauer, PhD, Professor, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
- Unique bioprocessing considerations for gene therapies
- Separation of virus, VLP and extracellular particles
- Process development of AAV and Lentivirus gene therapies
- Gene edited therapies
Digitalization: Where Does Pharma See Itself within IIOT and Industry 4.0?
Martin Mayer, PhD, Director, evon GmbH, Austria
- How is Digitalization, with its buzz topics IIOT and Industry 4.0, seen within Pharma?
- What are today's challenges?
- To which topics is the contribution of Digitalization essential (Personalized Medicine, RealTimeRelease-Testing, Continuous Manufacturing,…)
- What will the near future bring (2-4 years)?
17:30 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
18:30 End of Day
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wednesDAY, 21 MARCH
8:00 Registration and Morning Coffee
8:25 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Margit Holzer, PhD, Scientific Director, Ulysse-Consult
8:30 Continuous Chromatography Process Design Considerations and Validation Strategies
Margit Holzer, PhD, Scientific Director, Ulysse-Consult
Switching from batch to continuous processing requires specific development. Main steps of this development work allowing the definition of design spaces will be described in detail. Based on the resulting measurements for a specific design space, process-monitoring and control strategies and requirements for the equipment will be highlighted. Furthermore, additional studies and assessments needed for process validation will be presented. The mAb Protein A capture step will serve as example.
9:00 Data Management as a Key to Process Understanding and Development Efficiency for Continuous Processing
Martin Mayer, PhD, Director, evon GmbH, Austria
Bioprocess development and characterization rely on reasonable DoEs, meaningful on- and offline process monitoring concepts and methods for automated data handling, analysis and interpretation including data integrity issues. Although GMP criteria do not fully apply within all steps of R&D, one obstacle preventing the implementation of these key issues into bioprocess development and operation is the lack of software tools designed for fully automated management of complex bioprocess data sets.
9:30 Machine Learning for Bioprocessing Using Raman Spectroscopy
Alessandro Butte, PhD, Lecturer, ETH Zurich
Using examples, this presentation will examine statistical methods and multivariate decision tools, machine learning and hybrid models, process control using online monitoring and supervisory control and quality prediction.
10:00 High-Throughput, Low Volume Subvisible Particle Screening
Dan Lund, Technical Sales Specialist, Halo Labs
Halo labs will present a subvisible particle screening tool, the HORIZON, with detailed explanation of its Backgrounded Membrane Imaging (BMI) technology. A comparative analysis between HORIZON and flow imaging will be presented and key performance indicators including sample volume, throughput, dynamic range, instrument repeatability will be evaluated.
10:15 In-Line, Automated Monitoring with Viral Detection, A Case Study
Jan Van Hauwermeiren, Business Development Manager, Business Development, Ovizio
Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is a new quantitative imaging technique that allows monitoring the cellcount, morphology, viability and viral load in a continuous, label-free set-up. No need for sampling, staining and waiting for the results generated by an off-line counter: results are available in nearly real-time over the whole run.
10:30 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
11:15 Chairperson’s Remarks
Manuel Carrondo, PhD, Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, FCT-UNL, Vice President, IBET
11:20 Integrated Drug Substance-Drug Product Development for the Next Generation of Biologics
Hitto Kaufmann, PhD, Global Head, BioPharmaceutics Development & Platform Innovation, Global R&D, Sanofi-Aventis
The rise of next generation biologics brings with it new challenges. This presentation will examine how bioprocessing departments are adapting to evolving and diverse biological pipelines and the role of innovation as a key driver to deliver superior medicines to patients. The convergence of CMC technologies will also be examined using examples from Sanofi where relevant.
11:50 Next-Generation Processes, Technologies and Operations
Michael Pohlscheidt, PhD, Site Head & Head of Operations, Solothurn Manufacturing Facility, Biogen
A critical step in meeting the demand of biologic production worldwide involves implementing disruptive manufacturing technologies, processes and capabilities. This talk will evaluate Biogen’s new manufacturing site in Switzerland, due to go online in 2019, including the new processes, operational models and technologies being adopted to drive value through innovation and deliver new medicines in areas such as Alzheimer’s.
12:20 End of Conference
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