Downstream protein purification and product concentration is known to be the most challenging part of the process development. It is also known that the Downstream process development is critical to ensuring protein drug quality, safety & efficacy meet regulatory expectations. When initiating the development, the Chemistry, manufacturing and controls considerations for process development and manufacturing must include molecule complexity. Raw materials, process development. Equipment and manufacturing, Quality and Regulatory Affairs
The critical factors for development and manufacturing is performing a stage-wise assessment on Product development, analytical and process development and not least, the manufacturability assessment. The expected qualities of a superlative process shall include increased capacity, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, controllability, scalability, and efficiency
However, general challenges exist in downstream process development involving,
Balancing higher cost chromatography resins and solvents
Constrained purification space for molecules prone to degradation at a wide range of pH and temperature
Process fit to multi-product facility,
PAT availability to accelerated processing
Adaptation of new technologies is one of a smarter way to address the challenges:
Non-Protein A process
use of next-generation chromatography resins
Continuous processing for capture, intermediate purification, Viral clearance