Flexibility In Biologics Manufacturing: How To Determine If Stainless, Flexible Stainless, Or Single-Use Is Right For You

By Ed Miseta, Chief Editor, Clinical Leader

Meet customer needs by providing manufacturing options to suit every preference.

It should come as no surprise to anyone working in bioresearch that the proteins being discovered and developed today are far more complex than those manufactured just a few years ago. With many pharma and bio firms becoming increasingly reliant on CMOs to assist in their production processes, the number of molecules making their way into these partner firms will continue to increase. The complexity of these proteins will increase the need for CMOs to provide the greatest amount of flexibility possible to clients.

One advantage of working for a CMO is that you get exposure to a lot of different projects. As chief scientific officer for Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, Mike Ultee has worked on manufacturing a variety of proteins. Ultee works with clients who have a need to produce proteins ranging in molecular weight from 20 to 1,000 kilodaltons (a fifty-fold range). Some proteins are single-chained, while others may have up to eleven chains hooked together, creating a wide range of complexity. Some are composed only of amino acids, while others have additional structures added, such as carbohydrates. When dealing with so many different molecules, he believes the best thing a CMO can do for its pharma partners is to provide as much flexibility as possible.