Identify The Production Strategy Best Suited For Your Protein Or Peptide

By Dr. Teruhisa Mannen, General Manager, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

Proteins and peptides play a crucial role in drug development due to their targeted therapeutic effects and minimal side effects. As their applications expand, drug developers and CDMOs are seeking the most efficient and sustainable production methods. Depending on the type of protein or peptide you are trying to produce, there is a range of manufacturing strategies, including chemical synthesis, microbial/mammalian fermentation, and hybrid strategies that leverage multiple approaches.

The strategy best suited for your protein or peptide depends on a number of different factors:

• Type of protein or peptide, as well as its size, complexity, and your desired modifications
• Production scale, depending on if its pilot-scale or large-scale
• Budgetary constraints, particularly striking a balance between cost-effectiveness and desired yield
• Process sustainability, i.e. minimizing solvent waste and environmental impact

By understanding these factors and the advantages of each strategy, drug sponsors can select the optimal protein or peptide manufacturing system to maximize yield, minimize waste, and stay within budget.