GMP implementation of a hybrid continuous manufacturing process for a recombinant non-mAb protein—A case study

Advances in manufacturing technology coupled with the increased potency of new biotherapeutic modalities have created an external environment where continuous manufacturing (CM) can address a growing need. Amgen has successfully implemented a hybrid CM process for a commercial lifecycle program. In this process, the bioreactor, harvest, capture column, and viral inactivation/depth filtration unit operations were integrated together in an automated, continuous module, while the remaining downstream unit operations took place in stand-alone batch mode. CM operations are particularly suited for so-called “high mix, low volume” manufacturing plants, where a variety of molecules are manufactured in relatively low volumes. The selected molecule fit this mold and was manufactured in a low-capital micro-footprint suite attached to an existing therapeutic production facility. Use of a hybrid process within an already operating facility required less capital and minimized complexity. To enable this hybrid CM process, an established fed-batch process was converted to a perfusion process with continuous harvest. Development efforts included both process changes and the generation of a novel cell line adapted to long-term perfusion. Chromatography resins were updated, and purification processes adapted to handle variable inputs due to the fluctuations in harvest titer from the lengthy production process. A novel automated single-use (SU) viral inactivation (VI) skid was introduced, which entailed the development of a robust pH verification and alarm system, along with procedures for product isolation to allow discard of specific cycles. The CM process demonstrated consistent performance, meaning it met predefined performance criteria (including product quality attributes, or PQAs) when operated within established process parameters and manufactured according to applicable procedures. Using a 75% reduction in scale, it resulted in a five-fold reduction in process media and buffer usage, a fifteen-fold increase in mass per thaw, and an overall process productivity increase of 45-fold (as measured by grams drug substance per liter per day.) The hybrid CM process also enabled increased material demand to be met with no change in cost of goods manufactured or plant capacity, due to the repurposing of existing facility space and the flexible duration of the hybrid CM harvest. Overall, the success of the hybrid CM platform represents an exciting opportunity to reduce costs and increase process efficiency in industry.