Zurich, Switzerland – February 13, 2018 – ChromaCon AG today announced the successful scale-up of its CaptureSMB® twin-column periodic counter-current chromatography process for monoclonal antibody (mAb) purification from laboratory scale to industrial pilot and production scale.
The CaptureSMB process, an optimized two-column periodic counter-current capture technology, has been transferred from a lab-scale Contichrom® CUBE system (ChromaCon, Zurich) to a 100-fold larger Contichrom® TWIN system (LEWA, Devens, MA). The results confirm that continuous Protein A capture with CaptureSMB can be reliably scaled for industrial bioprocessing.
A joint team from Bristol-Myers Squibb (Devens, MA), ChromaCon (Zurich) and LEWA (Devens, MA) reports these results in BioProcess International in the article “Scale-Up of Twin-Column Periodic Counter-Current Chromatography for Monoclonal Antibody Purification.”
Proven Industrial Scale-Up of CaptureSMB Continuous Capture
Lab-scale development work was carried out on a Contichrom CUBE system. The performance data from these small-scale CaptureSMB experiments accurately predicted the behavior of the process when transferred to pilot and production scale on the Contichrom TWIN platform, demonstrating a robust and seamless scale-up strategy for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.
Compared with conventional single-column batch capture chromatography, the scaled CaptureSMB process delivered:
- 2.5-fold higher productivity (increased grams of mAb produced per liter of resin per hour)
- Improved resin utilization from 67% to 92%, maximizing the value of chromatography media
- Approximately 50% reduction in buffer consumption, lowering operating costs and facility footprint
These performance gains support the adoption of continuous downstream processing and twin-column capture in commercial monoclonal antibody manufacturing.
Expert Perspective on Twin-Column Continuous Chromatography
Thomas Müller-Späth, COO of ChromaCon and co-author of the study, commented:
“The data clearly show the benefit of a twin-column continuous capture process at production scale. The smooth and seamless upscaling process was facilitated by the low complexity of the twin-column CaptureSMB process. This is also an important factor when performing process validation and seeking regulatory approval.”
Michael Bavand, CEO of ChromaCon, added:
“The validation of the CaptureSMB process performance at industrial scale represents a significant milestone for the bioprocess industry. Together with our partners we pave the way for a fast adoption of continuous processes at industrial scale.”
Key Benefits of CaptureSMB for Monoclonal Antibody Purification
The successful scale-up confirms CaptureSMB as a powerful continuous chromatography solution for mAb capture, offering:
- Higher productivity compared to batch Protein A capture
- Significantly improved resin utilization, extending resin lifetime and reducing cost of goods
- Lower buffer consumption and smaller storage requirements
- A simple, two-column architecture that facilitates process validation and regulatory acceptance
- Predictable and scalable performance from laboratory development to pilot and commercial manufacturing
For companies implementing continuous bioprocessing, CaptureSMB provides an efficient path to industrial-scale continuous capture of monoclonal antibodies with reduced operating costs and increased facility throughput.
About ChromaCon AG
ChromaCon AG is a private Life Science Tools company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, specializing in continuous chromatography and process-intensified purification solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry. The company develops best-in-class process solutions, dynamic process control and process simulation tools for large-scale purification of biologics.
ChromaCon has developed and patented novel continuous bioprocessing principles and advanced process control concepts that deliver significant CAPEX and OPEX savings. Its Contichrom® laboratory-scale systems are marketed worldwide by ChromaCon and its partners, enabling efficient development of continuous capture and polishing processes.
ChromaCon has granted global licenses for its continuous process technologies to LEWA for implementation in EcoPrime® Twin scale-up systems, supporting a straightforward transition from lab to manufacturing scale.
ChromaCon Contact
To find out more about ChromaCon’s CaptureSMB continuous chromatography technology and Contichrom solutions, please contact:
Thomas Müller-Späth
www.chromacon.com
