WuXi Biologics has advanced cell culture productivity for an Fc-fusion protein. The cell culture has a productivity of 2.5g/L/day and 51g/L bioreactor volume in a 20-day continuous cell culture process called WuXiUP (Ultra-high Productivity). According to the company, this is more than 10 times productivity of 3-5g/L of traditional fed-batch process. This technology is being scaled up to GMP production and will be deployed throughout WuXi Biologics’ global manufacturing network in China, Ireland, Singapore and North America.

The WuXiUP process combines continuous cell culture operations with continuous column chromatography, helping to enable a similar purification yield of traditional purification process. According to the company, a 1,000L disposable bioreactor can produce more than 30kg of mAb per batch and approximately 500kg per year. This new technology enables 1,000L disposable bioreactors to achieve similar productivity as traditional 10,000-20,000L stainless bioreactors.

“We are excited about this breakthrough in cell culture productivity and becoming a global leader in continuous biomanufacturing. WuXi Biologics has been well recognized as a global technology leader in the development and manufacturing of biologics and we continue to innovate and invest in game-changing technologies to be ahead of the curve for our global client base,” said Dr. Chris Chen, chief executive officer of WuXi Biologics. “Developing next-generation manufacturing technologies to improve affordability of biologics is aligned with our mission of accelerating and transforming how biologics are developed and manufactured within the global setting.”