Terumo BCT and Nova Biomedical Collaborate on Automated Cell Culture Sensing

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT) agreed to collaborate with Nova Biomedical to enable automated cell culture sensing with Terumo BCT’s Quantum Flex™ cell expansion system through integration with Nova’s BioProfile FLEX2 automated cell culture analyzer.

By adding the FLEX2’s on-line automated sampling capabilities, it is possible to automatically sample and analyze a wide array of analytes in Quantum Flex and provide data in near-real time, “unlocking more efficient process development and control,” according to a spokesperson for Terumo BCT.

Cell-based therapies are significantly defined by the processes used to create them. This makes monitoring, control, and optimization of processes, especially during the cell culture stage, a critical part of developing and producing therapeutic doses. Incorporating automated cell culture sampling functions for broad parameter analysis will help make Quantum Flex a more compelling platform, helping developers build more effective workflows as they bring their therapies to market, said Matthew McRae, sales product line manager at Nova.

“Our collaboration with Terumo BCT will give more developers access to automated sensing capabilities through a leading cell culture platform,” he continued. “The FLEX2 is a robust, synergistic technology for cell culture platforms like Quantum Flex, allowing for more improved insight and control from process development to commercial manufacturing.”

“Our cell therapy customers have stressed the importance of adding automated cell culture monitoring features to Quantum Flex,” added Veerle d’Haenens, general manager, global therapy innovations at Terumo BCT. “Nova Biomedical is a strong partner to help us integrate these features for better process development and characterization. It will also improve monitoring and control during production, given the FLEX2’s comprehensive analyte set and demonstrated performance in the cell therapy space.”

The FLEX2 reportedly offers on-line monitoring of gas, total and viable cell density, and cell viability by trypan blue dye exclusion method, and osmolality by freezing point depression, as well as analysis of multiple key cell culture parameters. This will allow for superior process development, monitoring, and optimization of cell culture on Quantum Flex, with the potential to reduce reagent usage and culture time and improve outputs, stated d’Haenens.