Analyzing and Managing Biopharmaceutical Risks by Building a System Risk Structure (SRS) for Modeling the Flow of Threats Through a Network of Manufacturing Processes
by Mark F. Witcher, PhD
Volume 16, Open Access (September 2017)
Biopharmaceutical manufacturing process risks can be described as a network of processes that may include some combination of unit operations, equipment, instruments, control systems, procedures, and personnel practices. The system’s risks can be modelled by a system risk structure (SRS) that describes how threats originate and flow through the network to result in negative consequences (risks). The SRS is a quality risk management (QRM) tool a team of subject matter experts can use to prospectively identify and evaluate a wide variety of risks over the product’s entire development and manufacturing lifecycle. Based on the understanding developed from an SRS analysis, control strategies can be developed by modifying or adding new processes to mitigate the threats, thus reducing the likelihood of the risk consequence being realized. The SRS tool extends the ICH Q9 QRM approach described in a series of articles. Two examples are used to demonstrate how an SRS can be assembled and then used to prospectively identify, understand, and reduce significant risks by controlling the source and flow of threats within the systems described...
Citation:
Witcher MF. Analyzing and managing biopharmaceutical risks by building a system risk structure (SRS) for modeling the flow of threats through a network of manufacturing processes. BioProcess J, 2017; 16. https://doi.org/10.12665/J16OA.Witcher.
Posted online September 25, 2017.
Opinion
Pondering Different Scales of Knowledge
by Verne A. Luckow, PhD, JD
Volume 16, Open Access (September 2017)
I am not particularly spiritual. But as the shadow of the moon began to approach on August 21, 2017, I started to think about the limits of my knowledge of the solar system, galaxies, and beyond, compared to my focus for decades on smaller objects, such as molecules, cells, and tissues. A week later, Hurricane Harvey developed rapidly and lingered over southeast Texas, dumping over 50 inches of rain in some locations, causing widespread flooding, releasing sewage and toxic chemicals into the water, and triggering outbreaks of mold. Hurricane Irma, on its path through the Caribbean and up the western coast of Florida, devastated vegetation, buildings, and power lines, with intense winds that once peaked at 185 mph...
Citation:
Luckow VA. Opinion: pondering different scales of knowledge. BioProcess J, 2017; 16. https://doi.org/10.12665/J16OA.Luckow.
Posted online September 21, 2017.
Demonstration of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Inactivation by the Low pH Step of the Trypsin Manufacturing Process Using a New Infectivity Assay
by Tara Tagmyer, PhD and Kathryn Martin Remington, PhD
Volume 16, Open Access (September 2017)
Porcine circoviruses (PCVs) are small (17 nm) non-enveloped viruses with a covalently closed, circular, single-stranded DNA genome. PCV type 1 (PCV-1) and PCV type 2 (PCV-2) belong to the circovirus genus within the Circoviridae family. PCV-1 was originally isolated as a contaminant of porcine kidney (PK15) cells, and although it was found to be widely distributed in domestic swine in both North America and Europe, no correlation to any porcine disease or disorder has been established. PCV-2, however, has been found to be associated with several disease syndromes in pigs. For manufacturers of biologics utilizing porcine tissue or porcine tissue-derived materials, PCVs represent a contamination risk. In fact, an independent academic laboratory detected PCV-1 in a live attenuated rotavirus vaccine using metagenomic analysis and a PCV-1-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). While this study did not detect PCV-1 or PCV-2 nucleic acid in rotavirus vaccine from a second manufacturer, subsequent testing by the manufacturer revealed low levels of both PCV-1 and PCV-2 DNA. The source of the PCV nucleic acid contaminating both vaccines was determined to be porcine pancreas-derived trypsin used in the manufacture of the vaccines. The manufacturer of the rotavirus vaccine that was initially found to contain PCV sequences determined that their cell banks and virus seeds were contaminated with the viral sequences. The strong safety record of both vaccines and the benefits of vaccination against rotavirus convinced both the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to permit their continued use...
Citation:
Tagmyer T, Remington KM. Demonstration of porcine circovirus type 2 inactivation by the low pH step of the trypsin manufacturing process using a new infectivity assay. BioProcess J, 2017; 16. https://doi.org/10.12665/J16OA.Remington.
Posted online September 18, 2017.
Engineering MVM Resistance in CHO Cells
by Joaquina Mascarenhas, Trissa Borgschulte, and Henry George
Volume 16, Issue 1 (Spring 2017)
For decades, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have proven to be indispensable for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, serving as cell factories that reliably produce grams per liter of recombinant proteins with the appropriate post-translational modifications and protein folding. However, one of the challenges of working with mammalian cells is that they are susceptible to viral contamination. Although the adoption of a wide range of risk mitigation strategies has made viral contamination a rare event, staggering costs and a shortage of life-saving medicines can result when these prevention strategies do fail, as demonstrated by a number of high-profile contamination events within the industry...
Citation:
Mascarenhas J, Borgschulte T, George H. Engineering MVM resistance in CHO cells. BioProcess J, 2017; 16(1): 65–8. https://doi.org/10.12665/J161.Mascarenhas.
Posted online May 8, 2017.
Mouse Hybridoma Cell Culture in a Protein-Free Medium Using a Bio-Mimicking Fish-Tail Disc Stirred Bioreactor
by Rodolfo Valdés, Hasel Aragón, Marcos González, Daily Hernández, Déborah Geada, David Goitizolo, Williams Ferro, Adelma Pérez, José García, Yordanka Masforrol, Pedro Aguilar, Gabriel Márquez, Maylín LaO, Tatiana González, Yodelis Calvo, Alexander Hernández, Grechen Menéndez, and Andrés Tamayo
Volume 16, Issue 1 (Spring 2017)
Because the Lambda MINIFOR bioreactor provides good mixing of cell culture, nutrients, and gases without any damaging hydrodynamic forces by using a bio-mimicking “fish-tail“ disc stirrer, it can be successfully applied for the cultivation of bacteria and yeast, insect, plant, and mammalian cells. However, reports on its application in mouse hybridoma cell culture using protein-free media is non-existent in the scientific literature. Therefore, this study describes preliminary findings of the Lambda MINIFOR bioreactor suitability in mouse hybridoma cell culture and antibody production using the SP2/O-Ag14-CB.Hep-1 mouse hybridoma cell and the PFHM-II protein-free medium as models. Results verified 2.45 × 106 viable cells/mL as the highest cell concentration, 86% as maximum cell viability, 0.0156/h as the exponential growth rate, 44 h as cell population doubling time, a stable phenotype measured by limiting dilution after 2.5 months, no antibiotic and antifoam requirements, 71.4% of IgG SDS-PAGE purity in the cell culture harvested supernatant, 38.68 ± 22.29 μg/mL, 39.23 ± 10.66 pg/cell/day, up to 99.5% of purity (sample measured by SDS-PAGE and SE-HPLC) after an IgG capture step based on protein A-Sepharose, a low pH incubation, and size-exclusion chromatography, no molecule aggregation, specificity for the CKTCTT epitope (located in the HBsAg “a” determinant), an IgG affinity constant equal to 1.11 × 1010 M-1, and < 78 pg mouse DNA/mg of IgG. In conclusion, this study corroborated a cumulative CB.Hep-1 mAb production of 1.77 g/15 days and validated the usefulness of the Lambda MINIFOR bioreactor in mouse hybridoma cell culture in protein-free media for research applications...
Citation:
Valdés R, Aragón H, González M, Hernández D, Geada D, Goitizolo D et al. Mouse hybridoma cell culture in a protein-free medium using a bio-mimicking fish-tail disc stirred bioreactor. BioProcess J, 2017; 16(1): 51–64. https://doi.org/10.12665/J161.Valdes.
Posted online May 8, 2017.
Trends in Bioprocess Automation: Quality Control and Process Analytical Technology in High Demand
by Kathleen Estes and Eric S. Langer
Volume 16, Issue 1 (Spring 2017)
Automation in bioprocessing was a keynote topic at the ISBioTech 4th Annual Fall Meeting (December 12–14, 2016) in Virginia Beach, VA. Automation is becoming increasingly critical as biomanufacturers seek to improve their production efficiency and critical risk analysis, and reduce errors. But despite recent improvements and innovations, the actual integration of devices, software, sensors, and production equipment remains a challenge. In BioPlan Associates’ recent analysis of capacity and production, we found that nearly 20% of the biopharma industry sees increasing productivity and efficiency as the #1 critical issue the industry needs to focus on today. And over two-thirds expect better control of their processes. An obvious way to achieve these goals is through automation...
Citation:
Estes K, Langer ES. Trends in bioprocess automation: quality control and process analytical technology in high demand. BioProcess J, 2017; 16(1): 46–9. https://doi.org/10.12665/J161.Estes.
Posted online May 8, 2017.
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