An emphasis on continuous monoclonal antibody (mAb) bioprocessing in the pharmaceutical industry necessitates effective approaches for downstream process development (PD). With a PD strategy, the process parameters are optimized to directly develop streamlined three-step continuous chromatography processes. A design of experiment (DoE) approach with single column (batch mode) is used to simulate a multi-column (continuous mode) purification method and characterize each chromatography step: Protein A capture, anion exchange, and mixed mode cation exchange. A novel and targeted approach to quickly characterize a DoE design space was employed and empirical modeling was used to define the capacity for multi-column chromatography to accurately transfer the batch process to continuous mode of purification. This PD approach effectively mimics the continuous mode of operation and provides the flexibility to develop multiple continuous processes with target mAb recovery and purity. By implementing this PD strategy and the process parameters defined in batch mode, two robust and predictable continuous bioprocesses were developed within 7 weeks of investigation, which resulted in a total product yield of recovery at or above 74%, host cell protein (HCP) content below 5 ppm, and aggregate content below 1%.
Keywords: bioprocess development; chromatography; downstream Processing; protein purification.
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