FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Launches its ‘Apollo’ Mammalian Expression Platform

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has launched Apollo — its new mammalian expression platform.

The platform is designed to create a robust ‘manufacturing-ready’ cell line and consists of four key components: a new CHO DG44-derived host cell line; a novel expression vector; a cell line development process, utilising state-of-the-art screening technologies and optimised media and feed components. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has demonstrated that this combination leads to a high producing recombinant cell line, which can be used for pre-clinical material through to commercial production, and delivers titers up to 3 g/L before subsequent optimisation.

In addition to high productivity, Apollo also offers robustness and speed to clinic for customers, and can be used throughout the entire product lifecycle. Using transfectant pools, the Apollo platform enables supply of representative material within 10 weeks of receiving a gene sequence, and a manufacturing-ready clonal cell line in 25 weeks from transfection. The platform has low regulatory risk and uses a host cell line with proven track record.

Dr Mark Carver, Senior VP Research, Development & Innovation, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies said: “This is an exciting addition to our portfolio of advanced technology solutions for the manufacture of therapeutic proteins. It reflects the excellent work carried out by our team of scientists using state of the art predictive screening and high throughput approaches to create a high quality cell line development platform. We believe the platform has great potential — early media optimisation indicates we can exceed 5 g/L”.

He added: “This development is the latest step in the strategic expansion of our cell culture offering and builds on our 15-year track record in this space. Last year we initiated operation of our new MCC facility at our UK site, and additional 2000-L bioreactors are planned to be installed at both US and UK sites in early 2015. Our Apollo capability, together with these capacities, allows us to offer a ‘gene to GMP’ service for our customers”.