Abstract
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Biomanufacturing is an exciting and fundamentally new science that is constantly changing and yielding novel products from emerging technologies. This report A Practical Guide to Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing, provides an excellent introduction for anyone interested in developing an in-depth understanding of the biopharmaceutical industry. The report is written to highlight the production technologies and operations that occur in the manufacturing facility.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO BIOPROCESSING
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.1.1 Special considerations
- 1.2 The biopharmaceutical development process
- 1.2.1 Drug discovery
- 1.2.2 Process development
- 1.2.3 Clinical Trials
- 1.2.4 Time-to-market
- 1.3 The biopharmaceutical manufacturing process
- 1.3.1 Manufacturing capacity
- 1.3.2 Scale-up of production processes
- 1.4 Demand for biologics
- 1.4.1 Historical growth
- 1.4.2 Biologics in clinical trials
- 1.4.3 Approved biological products
- 1.5 Contract manufacturing organisations
- 1.5.1 Clinical Trials Directive
- 1.5.2 CMO Entrant
CHAPTER 2: GROWTH OPERATIONS
- 2.1 EXPRESSION SYSTEMS
- 2.1.1 Host organisms
- 2.1.2 Transgenic hosts
- 2.2 Culture type
- 2.2.1 Suspension culture
- 2.2.2 Attachment dependent
- 2.3 Growth characterisitics
- 2.3.1 Product formation
- 2.3.2 Scale-up
- 2.3.3 Culture media
- 2.3.4 Process monitoring and control
- 2.4 Modes of operation
- 2.4.1 Batch operation
- 2.4.2 Fed-batch operation
- 2.4.3 Media exchange operation
- 2.4.4 Perfusion operation
- 2.4.5 Solera
CHAPTER 3: RECOVERY & DOWNSTREAMS PROCESSING
- 3.1 Recovery
- 3.1.1 Centrifugation
- 3.1.2 Lysis
- 3.1.3 Filtration
- 3.2 Purification
- 3.2.1 Solubilisation and refolding
- 3.2.2 Chromatography
- 3.2.3 Precipitation
- 3.2.4 Viral clearance
- 3.3 Sterile filtration
- 3.4 Formulation, fill and finish
- 3.4.1 Pre-formulation
- 3.4.2 Stabilisation and formulation
- 3.4.3 Fill finish operations
CHAPTER 4: SUPPORT OPERATIONS
- 4.1 Process equipment
- 4.1.1 Standard vessels
- 4.1.2 Jacketed vessels
- 4.1.3 Disposables
- 4.1.4 Pipework
- 4.1.5 Manifolds
- 4.2 Process solutions and waste
- 4.2.1 Process solutions
- 4.2.2 Sampling
- 4.2.3 Waste
- 4.3 Cleaning and sterilisation
- 4.3.1 Clean-in-place (CIP)
- 4.3.2 Sterilisation
- 4.4 Process utilities
- 4.4.1 Purified water (PW)
- 4.4.2 Water for injection (WFI)
- 4.4.3 Clean steam
- 4.4.4 Utility distribution
CHAPTER 5: BIOPROCESS DESIGN
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Bioprocess design
- 5.2.1 Process description
- 5.2.2 GMP philosophy
- 5.2.3 Mass balance
- 5.2.4 Block flow diagrams and process flowsheets
- 5.2.5 Process Simulation
- 5.2.6 Equipment List
- 5.2.7 Piping and instrumentation diagram
- 5.2.8 Process control
- 5.2.9 Scale-up/Scale-down
- 5.3 Facility design
- 5.3.1 Facility products
- 5.3.2 Plant layout
- 5.3.3 Room classifications and HVAC zoning
- 5.3.4 Clean air
- 5.3.5 People, material and waste flows
- 5.3.6 Change rooms and airlocks
- 5.3.7 Waste management
- 5.4 Design lifecycle
- 5.4.1 Conceptual design
- 5.4.2 Front end engineering
- 5.4.3 Detail design
- 5.4.4 Construction
- 5.4.5 Commissioning and qualification
CHAPTER 6: PROCESS SIMULATION
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.1.1 Simulation models
- 6.1.2 Simulation study
- 6.2 Overview of process simulation
- 6.2.1 Challenges of bioprocess simulation
- 6.2.2 Benefits of process simulation
- 6.2.3 Simulators for the bioprocess industry
- 6.3 Bioprocess simulation
- 6.3.1 Domain description
- 6.3.2 Modelling scope of a bioprocess simulator
- 6.3.3 Bioprocess simulation software packages
- 6.4 A simulation case study
- 6.4.1 An example of a modelling framework
- 6.4.2 Case study set-up
- 6.4.3 Simulation results and discussion
- 6.4.4 Conclusion
CHAPTER 7: COST MODELLING
- 7.1 Introduction
- 7.2 Cost performance metrics
- 7.2.1 Capital costs
- 7.2.2 Operating costs
- 7.2.3 Net Present Value (NPV)
- 7.3 Framework of a cost model
- 7.3.1 An example of a cost model framework
- 7.3.2 Data collection
- 7.3.3 COG modules
- 7.4 A COG case study
- 7.4.1 Case study set-up
- 7.4.2 Simulation results and discussion
CHAPTER 8: SAMPLE PROCESSES
- 8.1 Therapeutic proteins
- 8.1.1 Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)
- 8.1.2 Recombinant interferons
- 8.1.3 Recombinant interleukins
- 8.1.4 Recombinant hormones
- 8.1.5 Recombinant growth factors
- 8.1.6 Monoclonal antibodies
- 8.1.7 Growth
- 8.1.8 Recovery
- 8.1.9 Purification
- 8.2 Vaccines
- 8.2.1 Types of vaccines
- 8.2.2 Whooping cough
- 8.2.3 Growth and Recovery
- 8.2.4 Solid Fraction Lysis and Purification
- 8.2.5 Supernatant Purification
- 8.2.6 Polishing and combined purification
- 8.3 Gene therapy
- 8.3.1 Genetic Vectors
- 8.3.2 Growth
- 8.3.3 Recovery
- 8.3.4 Purification
- 8.4 Cellular therapy
- 8.4.1 Dendritic white blood cells
- 8.4.2 Purification & transformation
- 8.4.3 Recovery and Growth
CHAPTER 9: DISPOSABLES
- 9.1 Disposable application evaluation
- 9.1.1 Quantitative analysis
- 9.1.2 Benefits of disposable technology
- 9.1.3 Disadvantages of disposable technology
- 9.2 Design guide: bag handling
- 9.2.1 Empty bioprocess bags & disposable equipment
- 9.2.2 Filled bioprocess bags
- 9.2.3 Tubing
- 9.3 Systems
- 9.3.1 Cell culture
- 9.3.2 Chromatography
- 9.3.3 Mixer systems
- 9.3.4 Freezing systems
- 9.4 Components
- 9.4.1 Bags
- 9.4.2 Connectors
- 9.4.3 Rapid transfer ports
- 9.4.4 Tubing
- 9.4.5 Filling
- 9.5 Instrumentation and control
CHAPTER 10: REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
- 10.1 Product licensing
- 10.1.1 Clinical development and product approval
- 10.1.2 Clinical trials
- 10.1.3 Regulatory authorities
- 10.2 Good manufacturing practice
- 10.2.1 Defining the regulatory requirements
- 10.2.2 Regulatory framework
- 10.2.3 Scope Process areas
- 10.2.4 Assessing requirements
- 10.2.5 Design considerations
- 10.2.6 Viral clearance of biotechnology products
- 10.2.7 Good Automated Manufacturing Practices (GAMPs)
- 10.3 Biosafety
- 10.3.1 Defining the regulatory requirements
- 10.3.2 Risk
- 10.3.3 Biosafety & GMP
- 10.4 Validation approach
- 10.4.1 Validation requirements
- 10.4.2 Validation life cycle
- 10.5 Quality: The role of QA/QC
- 10.5.1 Quality Assurance
- 10.5.2 Quality Control
LIST OF TABLES
- Table 1.1 Average figures for number of subjects, success rates and trial durations in clinical phases
- Table 1.2 Mean total phase lengths for biopharmaceuticals
- Table 1.3 Typical dosage figures for a selection of approved products
- Table 1.4 Typical therapeutic antibodies approved, and their indications
- Table 4.1 Typical mixing time for media and buffer preparation
- Table 4.2 System requirements for solution preparation stations
- Table 5.1 Environmental classification
- Table 5.2 Classification of cleanrooms
- Table 6.1 Comparison of SuperPro/SchedulePro Designer and BPS Simulation
- Table 6.2 Major equipment specification
- Table 7.1 A typical worksheet for presenting the annual cash flow, the discounted present value and the net present value of a project
- Table 7.2 An example of a production worksheet
- Table 7.3 An example of an equipment list worksheet
- Table 7.4 Cost factors included in the capital charge
- Table 7.5 Lang factors used in the capital estimate (contingencies excluded)
- Table 7.6 Labour benchmarking factors and estimated headcount
- Table 7.7 Capital breakdown for the traditional and concept facility
- Table 7.8 Cost of goods (COG) comparison (including capital) (€ /g)
- Table 9.1 Tubing pass-through options
- Table 9.2 Disposable bioreactors
- Table 9.3 Disposable flasks, bottles and other containers
- Table 9.4 Mixer systems
- Table 9.5 Disposable connectors
- Table 9.6 Instrumentation and control components
- Table 10.1 Average figures for number of subjects, success rates and trial durations in clinical phases
- Table 10.2 Regulatory bodies
- Table 10.3 ICH documents
- Table 10.4 EU Directives and Guidelines
- Table 10.5 US Regulations and Guidelines
- Table 10.6 System Classifications
LIST OF FIGURES
- Figure 1.1 Scale-up of biopharmaceutical production process to generate product for initial R&D clinical trials and commercialisation
- Figure 1.2 IND applications in US
- Figure 1.3 Breakdown of clinical trials by expression system
- Figure 1.4 Breakdown of clinical trials per phase by expression system
- Figure 1.5 Breakdown of clinical trials by product type
- Figure 1.6 Breakdown of clinical trials by location of trials
- Figure 1.7 Breakdown of clinical trials by location of companies
- Figure 1.8 Contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs)
- Figure 2.1 An airlift bioreactor
- Figure 2.2 Stirred tank bioreactor
- Figure 2.3 T-flasks
- Figure 2.4 Nalgene cell factories
- Figure 2.5 A schematic of a hollow fibre bioreactor
- Figure 2.6 A packed bed bioreactor
- Figure 2.7 The different phases during the growth of an organism
- Figure 2.8 Typical scale-up trajectory
- Figure 3.1 Operation of disk stack centrifuge
- Figure 3.2 Operation of a tubular bowl centrifuge
- Figure 3.3 Different types of filtration based on the particle size range
- Figure 3.4 Considerations for process selection
- Figure 3.5 Interaction between matrix and product in affinity chromatography
- Figure 3.6 Interaction between matrix and product in ion exchange chromatography
- Figure 3.7 Diffusion-based process that uses a porous matrix where species within the feed can diffuse
- Figure 3.8 Sterile filtration steps in media preparation
- Figure 4.1 Commonly installed ports in a standard vessel
- Figure 4.2 Commonly installed ports in a jacketed vessel
- Figure 4.3 An illustration of a CIP system
- Figure 4.4 CIP skid system
- Figure 4.5 Typical duration of activities in an SIP operation
- Figure 4.6 The sequences for preparing purified water
- Figure 4.7 The operation of a clean steam generator
- Figure 5.1 Using operation yields to calculate the scale of operation
- Figure 5.2 An example of a section of a block flow diagram
- Figure 5.3 Graphical representation of the process
- Figure 5.4 P&ID of a typical temperature loop with valve positioner
- Figure 5.5 An example of a control system for bioreactor temperature
- Figure 5.6 Operating boundaries for process scale-up
- Figure 5.7 Single product facility
- Figure 5.8 Single product facility with pre- and post-viral segregation
- Figure 5.9 The use of airflows and HEPA filters in a facility
- Figure 5.10 The movement of people and equipment
- Figure 5.11 Waste disposal
- Figure 6.1 Steps in a simulation study
- Figure 6.2 The modelling framework for the simulation tool
- Figure 6.3 A downstream purification flowsheet simulation diagram
- Figure 6.4 Gantt chart of a process schedule
- Figure 6.5 Process flow diagram of the case study: Production of a therapeutic MAb from mammalian cell culture using batch culture
- Figure 6.6 Gantt chart - process scheduling
- Figure 6.7 Gantt chart - Vessel utilisation
- Figure 6.8 Gantt chart - CIP skid utilisation
- Figure 6.9 Utility plots for (a) WFI storage and (b) supply/demand
- Figure 7.1 Cost of goods (COG) spreadsheet structure
- Figure 7.2 The mass balance table and a detailed breakdown of the sub unit operations
- Figure 7.3 The layout of a COG summary worksheet
- Figure 7.4 Disposable application savings (€ /g)
- Figure 8.1 Sample flowsheet for a typical MAb production process
- Figure 8.2 Sample process flowsheet for the production of vaccines
- Figure 8.3 Recovery steps for the culture of Bordetella pertussis cells
- Figure 8.4 Sample process flowsheet for gene therapy
- Figure 8.5 Growth pattern for the production of viruses
- Figure 8.6 Scale-out over scale-up
- Figure 8.7 Sample process flowsheet for cellular therapy
- Figure 9.1 The relative proportions of direct materials costs associated with the application of disposables
- Figure 9.2 Single-head Acerta disposable filling system
- Figure 10.1 From discovery to launch
- Figure 10.2 Validation document structure

