MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has acquired MAST (Modular Automated Sampling Technology) platform from Lonza. The MAST platform is an automated, aseptic bioreactor sampling system designed to advance bioprocessing capabilities for more efficient and cost-effective drug manufacturing. Financial details were not disclosed.
 
The MAST platform enables the gathering of more frequent samples and collection of real-time data, including product attributes in hours instead of weeks, compared to manual sampling, according to the company. The average cell culture process can save more than 80 hours of labor generally required for sample collection, handling, and analysis. Additionally, one MAST  platform unit can collect samples from up to 10 bioreactors and connect them to four primary analyzers.
 
Upon closing, the MAST Platform will be part of MilliporeSigma’s BioContinuum Platform: It includes the Bio4C Software Suite, a first-of-its-kind ecosystem that combines process control, analytics, and plant-level automation for GMP manufacturing. Merck KGaA is the first life science business to converge advanced process technologies with software, automation, and analytics into one ecosystem, and aims to move the biopharmaceutical industry another step closer to the digitally enabled facility of the future.
 
The acquisition of the MAST platform is another milestone to accelerate innovation in the Process Solutions business unit, one of the company’s three growth engines (“Big 3”), through targeted smaller to medium-sized acquisitions with high impact. The deal follows the acquisitions of Exelead, a CDMO specializing in complex injectable formulations, including Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) based drug delivery technology, in January and AmpTec, a CDMO, with expertise in PCR-based mRNA technology, in 2021.