U.S. based pharmaceutical company Merck has reportedly launched its BioContinuum Platform in an attempt to advance the production of biotherapeutic drugs through improved efficiency, greater quality and consistency as well as simplified plant operations. This expanded offering was introduced by the company at the 2018 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSci360 conference in Washington, D.C.
Merck Executive Board member and Life Science CEO , Udit Batra, mentioned that the new, adaptive platform of applications, products and expertise would enable customers to bring new therapies to patients in need, in a more cost-effective and faster way than ever before.
Mr. Batra said that the unique and holistic approach of the company to next-generation bioprocessing allows it to realize the advantages of process intensification across the entire process, not achieved by focusing on one area at a time. The company is advancing the industry by enhancing process economics without sacrificing product quality or titer while minimizing energy consumption, waste and raw material use.
Continuous bioprocessing apparently consists of integrating the generally batch-based, separate manufacturing steps into one connected process, allowing continuous flow from added raw materials via product harvest, purification and testing. Pilot studies suggested that shifting to such manufacturing method could lower the production costs by up to 50 percent.
Though continuous processing is the future of drug manufacturing, sources say consumers today are seemingly facing challenges in terms of cost of goods, speed-to-market or facility flexibility. A fully continuous, fully connected process is not mandatory for customers to acknowledge the benefits.
Vast knowledge base of Merck for application and technical support included with the BioContinuum Platform, as well as the company’s documentation and the products would supposedly assist in simplifying customers’ processes, prevent risks and save time. The BioContinuum Platform from Merck indicates the evolution in the biopharmaceutical industry, and the organization is committed to support its consumers and this industry throughout the transition.
