How are technological advances & non-traditional approaches are improving efficiency, speed, quality and cost in downstream processing?

This week, Bioprocess International Conference producer Barry Walsh shares how he believes that new technology is improving downstream processing and what he's looking forward to at this year's event.

How are technological advances and non-traditional approaches improving efficiency, speed, quality and cost in downstream processing? And what are the options and obstacles to change?

 Protein A is the foundation of the industry because it is probably applicable and it has a well-known developed pathway with predictable results. But the cost of Protein A is extremely high, sometimes exceeding $240,000 for 10 liters. However, cost of production is being dramatically reduced by the development of more efficient mechanical systems like continuous chromatography, which helps to streamline operations and eliminate waste. Advances with these systems help companies justify the continued use of Protein A and avoid the cost of equipment retrofits, cost of changing development, validation, manufacturing and other risks that would be associated with adopting a non-affinity platform. Alternatively, companies are developing alternative technology platforms because of the opportunity to substantially reduce costs in development, validation, clinical purification, manufacturing, as well as the opportunity to improve reproducibility in product quality. Some of these new technologies are able to displace the current platform. It will create a completely novel, overall paradigm in downstream processing. 

I’m really looking forward to hearing James Thomas deliver his keynote address on “Producing High-Quality, Low-Cost Biotherapeutics in the Century of Biology”. He delivered a keynote address at the first BioProcess International Conference back in 2004 and I am interested to hear his perspective on how far the industry has evolved over the past 10 years and hear what innovations lie ahead for companies in this dynamic field.

I also can’t wait to hear the debate that will take place during the point/counter-point discussion on capture options and antibody purification because it is a very polarizing topic. We will get some great answers to questions like: “Is Protein A Really doing the job?” “Is Protein A the right standard?” “Do alternatives to Protein A have serious potential and why?”

This is an excerpt from a podcast interviews series in coordination with BPI Magazine.  To hear the complete podcast along with other speaker interviews, download them by visiting this webpage.

If you'd like to join Barry in Boston this coming September 16-19 at the Bioprocess International Conference, as a reader of this blog when you register to join us and mention code BLOG13JP, you'll save 20% off the standard rate! Have any questions? Feel free to email Jennifer Pereira.

Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!

Share |