Platform process for production of monoclonal antibodies for research purposes – improvement option

Background In 2006 Novo Nordisk decided to invest in building a pipeline within inflammatory disease management. To support this strategy the cell culture units had to establish technology for expression and production of monoclonal antibodies in CHO cells. A number of technology providers at that time offered proven platform processes for this purpose. It was decided to in-license one of these technology platforms, the one developed at Lonza Biologics, and focus research resources on product innovation rather than development of an in-house production system. The platform has now been fully implemented and the work flow optimised and standardised.