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Cell Line
Development Services

Stable Cell Line Development at Aragen – Accelerating speed to IND

Efficient cell line development is critical in bringing biologics to market and requires a team of experienced scientists, a portfolio of well validated cell line platforms, and state of the art facilities. Aragen delivers this combination and has completed more than 200 cell line development projects, with over 100 of those cell lines in the clinic following an investigational new drug (IND) application. More than four of Aragen’s cell lines are producing marketed products.

Support for a broad range of host cell lines and expression vectors

Aragen’s researchers are specialists in handling a wide range of host cell lines (CHO, SP2/0, and NS0) and expression vectors (DHFR, Glutamine Synthetase (GS), and antibiotics).

Optimized cell line engineering services for therapeutic biomolecules
  • Global cell line development: USD 11.6 billion by 2028 (Global Market Insights Inc.)
  • Due to patent expiry of branded therapeutics- Increased demand for Novel Anticancer drugs, monoclonal antibodies, Biotherapeutics, Vaccine production
  • Partnering to generate biosimilars with demonstrable structural equivalence to that of innovator drugs (like post-translational modifications-glycosylation)
  • Possess validated CHO-DG44 and CHO-GS cell line and vector combinations with an innovative clone selection process.
  • Achieved increased titres up to 6g/L; 33% reduction in CLD timelines; Transfection to RCB in 18 weeks; Royalty-free platform.
  • Optimized the manufacturing scale-up with tight control and tailored analytics to ensure that the biosimilar fits innovator drug specifications.
  • Working with small to large clients developing biosimilar products for inflammatory disease, genetic disorders, and cancer.

CLD Process Flow

 

RapTr2022 with Higher Titre and Shorter Timeline – A royalty-free CHO-DG44 CLD

Key Highlights

Our Biologics team has produced a range of biologics, including human, mouse, canine and feline IgGs, fusion proteins, enzymes, hormones, cytokines, mini bodies, and bispecific antibodies with this platform. Major advantage of RapTr2022 is best suited to produce difficult-to-express proteins. 

A strong track record in successfully engineering cell lines to develop the proprietary CHO-DG44 platform for timely delivery of more than 100 CLD projects. Majority of these CLD projects resulted in IND applications leading to clinical development. 

Our resources and capabilities will fit your unique requirements at each step of the CLD process. Our RapTr2022 platform should expedite your biotherapeutic product journey to clinic since this platform minimizes risk and maximizes efficiency.

CHO DG44

Our internal CHO DG44 platform is an essentially free-to-own (royalty-free) and is a high- productivity CHO cell line option that can deliver >4g/L in 5 months for a range of biologics. The DG44 platform has an extensive regulatory track record and uses commercially available media and feeds.

Highlights

  • Royalty-free CHO DG44 platform 
  • Production of 4-5 g/L protein in ~5 months
  • Multiple expression systems (GS, antibiotics, etc.)
  • Extensive regulatory and clonality expertise
  • IND- / BLA-ready packages
  • 50% antibodies
  • 50% non-antibody proteins
  • Host cell lines include CHO-DG44, CHO-GS, SP2/0
  • Expertise in generating Biosimilar Drugs

CHO GS Platform with Higher titre and shorter Timeline for Antibody Production 

Now, increasingly, the GS-CHO expression system, which is protein-free-adapted CHO-K1-derived cell line that employs the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene expression system is used for biotherapeutic production. 

  • A royalty-free CHO GS Cellline Development (CLD) platform
  • CHO GS- stable cell line expression platform to produce proteins and antibodies. 
  • Stable bulk pool (BP) evaluation reached ~700mg/L.
  • Mini pool (MP) generated, and MP reached up to 4.2g/L.
  • SCC were generated from top 2 mini-pools and fed-batch shake flask reached up to 6 g/L.
  • Single cell clones showing stability over 60 days in respect to cell growth, maintaining high viability and specific productivity.
  • Using Aragen’s optimized process from transfection to Single cell cone evaluation completed in 18wks.

Sigma’s CHOZN

Sigma’s CHOZN platform is based on deletion of the CHO glutamine synthetase (GS) gene with Talon gene editing technology. The resulting GS-/- CHO host and expression vector with GS selection is a great combination for companies with an interest in an established GS selection system. Regulators are familiar with its efficacy and operation, and its expression vector produces titers equivalent to the DG44 platform.

Mitigating risk with parallel cell line development

Deciding what CLD platform would work best is challenging. Therefore, Aragen’s cell line development service provides cost-effective approaches to test different platforms simultaneously without delaying IND filing timeline.

A poor expressing product is a suitable candidate for testing on multiple platforms. Simultaneous testing provides a mitigation strategy to the risk of having to repeat CLD due to low titers or poor product quality that results in high material costs (COGS). If two platforms have comparable titers, then the superior product quality or reduced milestone costs can drive the platform decision. We have optimized breaks in the CLD process so that parallel work can be stopped as soon as data is available to select the most effective platform.

Case Study : Biosimilar Cell Line Development: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Blocker (HER-2 Type) or Rec-MC Antibody

  • Generated clonal cell lines
  • Evaluated in Fed-batch Shake flask
  • Reproducible data in Bioreactor
  • Analytics to meet the analytics

IgG Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Blocker (HER-2 Type) or Rec-MC Antibody
HPCL-SEC Purity
Sample IDMain PeakHMWSLMWS
198.801.200.00
297.502.110.39
397.811.810.38
497.731.910.37
597.971.560.47
698.851.150.00
796.882.660.47
897.661.960.39
998.840.730.43
1097.731.840.44
IgGA Control
IgGA Start99.10%0.90%0.00%
IgGA End99.10%0.90%0.00%
Process Development

A commercial-scale biologic production is only possible when bench-scale prototypes are scalable to pilot-scale and high-volume bioreactors. Parameters should be established both at the shaker flask scale and at the larger scale reactors so that wastage of valuable resources and time are saved. Therefore, it is critical to establish the production parameters following rigorous experimental design and verification of as many variables as feasible. Process development must also include parameter testing at various bioreactor volumes, which is expensive and can cause considerable delays.

  • Use of nonproprietary commercially available media and feed for screening studies allows transfer to any CDMO
  • Media and feed screening in Shake Flasks
  • Process parameter screening and optimization in 1L Bioreactor
  • Process consistency and scalability happens in 5L Bioreactor
Process Development (PD) Case Studies: PD to Increase titer & Improve Product Quality

Case Study : Low expressing Recombinant Protein with cleavage issue

  • Improved titer from 20 to 300ug/mL with >85% fully formed protein
  • Established robust USP and DSP for client

Case Study : RCB titer >5g/L

  • Established robust USP with final titer >5g/L where client came with <2g/L

Case Study : SP2/0 Cell line with inconsistent, unscalable USP

  • Improved titer with consistent scalable USP and transferred to CDMO

Case Study : Biosimilar SP2/0 Upstream Process Development

Upstream Process Development

  • Media adaption
  • Shake flask fed batch evaluation with different media and Feed
  • Scalable and consistent data from shake flask to 1L and 5L Bioreactor in terms of VCD and titer profile
  • Glycan profile, SEC, cIEF, Mass Spec, SPR is comparable to Originator Anti-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibiting Agent 

Part A: Media Adaptation; Growth Profile

  • Master Cell Bank (MCB) received from Client was thawed, scaled up in the original medium, Media A, based on Aragen protocol
  • SP2/0 cells were adapted in different medium. The SP2/0 adapted well (viability >90%) with Media B, D and F. These medias were used in the next stage
Replacement Name
Media A-control
Media B
Media C
Media D
Media E
Media F
Replacement Name
Feed A-control
Feed B
Feed C

Part B: Media & Feed Screening

Media AMedia BMedia DMedia F
Culture lasted7-9 days8-9 days7-8 days7-8 days
PVCD range5.5-6×106 c/ml4-4.5×106 c/ml6.6-9.6×106 c/ml11-13×106 c/ml
Titer range330-500 mg/L180-280 mg/L400-500 mg/L400-500 mg/L

PVCD: peak viable cell density

Tested Media and FeedOutcomeScenario
Media BCulture lasted similar to control/orginal (Media A), PVCD and tier lower than Media ARemove
Media DCulture lasted similar to control, PVCD and titer better than Media APotential media
Media FCulture lasted similar to Media A, with highest PVCD and titer is also a little higherPotential media
Feed BThis feed showing better than control feed in all casesPotential feed
Feed CSimilar performance to control feedRemove

Part C: Shake Flask Evaluation Optimization

  • With the temperature shift to 32°C, cell viability was enhanced, prolonged evaluation with cultures lasted longer than 10 days
  • Media F: Peak VCD was observed at 14-17x106cells/mL with the viability better maintained and productivity was highest
ID Run Duration Days%Viability at Harvest PVCD E6 c/ML Harvest Titer (mg/L)
M-F_F-A_S2124116836

Part D: Bioreactor Parameter Screening 

1L BR Cell Growth Profile – VCD and Viability

  • Cultures lasted from D10 to D14
  • PVCD ranged from 14 to 20X106 c/mL
  • Higher rpm and 40% Do worked better to achieve higher PVCD. Till D6 viability were maintained higher
  • Temp shift to 340C showing sharper drop than TS 320C
  • At 40% viability cut off criteria 50% couldn’t reach D12 and 50% showing better viability on D12
  • Seems 250rpm worked best

1L BR Metabolic Profile 

Glutamine was maintained till D4 and that helped the cells to reach desirable PVCD. Other than scheduled feeds few additional Glucose feeds were added. Overall glucose level maintained within normal range. For all 6 BR conditions lactate level was 4g/L. BR3 & BR4 showing ~2g/L. With 250rpm all BR showing less than 6mM NH4+ accumulation.

1L BR – pH, PCO2 and Osmolality 

  • pH set point with wider dead band helped the cell growth with minimal base addition
  • PCO2 was maintained ~20-30% for all cases
  • Osmolarity for all cases were in acceptable range

1L BR Harvest Titer

  • Harvest titer ranged from 343 to 884mg/L.
  • Highest titer by BR4.

1L BR Summary Table

Summary Table for BR Screening Parameter
BR IDPVCDRun DurationHarvest ViabilityTiter by BLI mg/L
BR113.41319531
BR219.81216538
BR318.71420824
BR419.31420884
BR519.91018343
BR616.61313541

1L BR Analytics

  • Requested Analytics:
    • ProA Purification & A280 Titer
    • SDS-PAGE
    • SEC-HPLC
    • cIEF
    • Glycan Profiling
    • Intact Mass by LC-MS

1L BR Analytics – SDS-PAGE Non-Reduced

Non-Reduced
LaneClone ID
1Ladder
2BR1
3BR2
4BR2
5BR4
6BR5
7BR6
8Originator G01
9Originator M0
10Originator M1
11IgGA


Band at the expected size for all BRs, same as the Originator

1L BR Analytics – SDS-PAGE Reduced

Reduced
LaneClone ID
1Ladder
2BR1
3BR2
4BR3
5BR4
6BR5
7BR6
8Originator G01
9Originator M0
10Originator M1
11IgGA

Two bands at the expected size for all BRs, like the Originator

1L BR Analytics – SEC, cIEF, LC-MS, and Glycan Profile 

Sample IDProASET-HPLCcIEFLC-MSGlycan Profile
% Recovery by ProAMain Peak%HMW%LMW%pl%Main Peak%Basic Peak%Acidic PeakME DaG0FG1F(1,6)G2FG2FBS1
GSN/A100008.65133.515.614969231.426.47.75.3
KCS24M0N/A100008.653.132.814.114985230.928.48.85.6
KCS24M1N/A100008.650.93712.214969130.827.88.24.6
BR487%100008.644.436.818.814954649.426.42.43.3

 

  • BR4 showed similar profile in SEC-HPLC, cIEF, and LC-MS to the originator. 
  • Glycan profile needed to be lowered, thus in optimization glycan were modified using galactose and uridine

1L BR Summary

  • Culture duration lasted from D10 to D14
  • PVCD reached 13 to 20×106 cells/mL.
  • Metabolic profile is within the usual range
  • Harvest titer reached similar or a little better than shake flask evaluation
  • Successful scaleup from SF to BR
  • From screening parameter, the best condition is from BR4-
    • DO- 40%
    • Agitation- 250rpm
    • TS-320C
    • pH set point 7.2+/- 0.4

Multiple Il Bioreactors were run to optimize the reproducibility of the process.

Upstream

IDPVCD X106 c/mLRun Duration DaysHarvest Viability %Titer by BLI mg/L
BR117.41322.5860
BR214.81215.8425
BR3191427.7709
BR417.61318.4553
BR517.91418.7870
BR6181218295
Control19.31420884

Upstream Summary

  • The process is reproducible (BR1 is like the control).
  • Earlier TS on D3 with same feeding did not reach the expected PVCD (BR2), however with increase feed on D5 & D7 could reach the expected PVCD(BR3).
  • Higher feed on D5 and D7 with the same TS on D4 couldn’t keep the cell’s viability high. There was a sharp drop in viability after they reach the peak (BR4).
  • Addition of the Glycan modifier didn’t show an adverse effect on cell growth (BR5 & BR6). However combined feed showed sharp drop in viability after D7 feed (BR6).
  • For the next part or BR Optimization, repeated the run for BR5 (Galactose) and BR6 (Galactose & Uridine). 

Downstream and Analytics

Summary of Bioreactor sample Optimization
Protein A Drip Column PurificationTiter CalculationsHPCL-SEC PurityclEF Purity
Sample#IDSample Volume(ml)Harvest Processed (ml)Elution Volume (ml)Conc.by A280 (mg/ml)Yield of protein A Eluate (mg/ml)Conc.by Octet (mg/ml)Load (mg)(Yield/Load)* 100-Titer Recovery (%)Main Peak (%)HMWS (%)LMWS (%)Main Peak (%)Sum of basic (%)Sum of Acidic (%)Averagepl
1BR1501052.0410.20.8608.6118.7499.830.170.0069.726.63.78.4
2BR5501051.708.50.8708.797.4699.920.080.007.429.53.28.4
3BR5-2501052.0610.31.00010.0103.0099.950.050.0063.832.63.68.5
4BR6-2501051.557.80.7547.5102.7999.950.050.0059.937.52.68.4
  • BR1 and BR5 is from the initial 1L BR Optimization

Downstream and Analytics Summary 

  • From BR process optimization experiment BR5-2(1LBR @0.1% Gal Plus) showed reproducible data as the control with modification of Glycan profile. It needed a little more optimization of the glycan profile.
  • For the next 2X5L BR run was designed to optimize further glycan profile to match the innovators lot as well as reproduce the same data as control run.
  • BR1: Gal Plus @ 0.15%
  • BR2: Gal Plus @ 0.2%
  • Earlier BR5-2(@0.1% Gal Plus) was used as control for this set of data.
  • Galactose + Uridine did not improve the glycan profile or the titer, thus Uridine is removed for the next stage.
Bioreactor Repeatability & Scalability

5L BR Growth Profile – VCD & Viability

  • Both BRs showing similar growth profile like control.
  • Cultures lasted from D14.
  • PVCD reached ~16X106 c/mL for both BR.
  • Both BRs showing similar viability profile as control.
  • Harvest viability on D14 is ~20%.

5L BR Growth Profile – Metabolic Profile

  • Glutamine was maintained till D4 and that helped the cells to reach desirable PVCD
  • Glutamate level is very similar for both BR runs 
  • Cultures never ran out of glucose
  • Other than scheduled feeds no additional glucose feeds were required for both BRs
  • Lactate level was 2-3 g/L for both
  • Both BRs showing similar NH4 accumulation
  • Final NH4 was less than 7 mM

5L BR – pH, Gas, & Osmolality

  • Osmolality was comparable
  • PCO2 was maintained ~20-30% for all cases
  • Higher pH set point with tight dead band and later pH shift helped the cell growth with minimal base addition

5L BR – Summary Table

Summary Table for the BioXpress 5L Runs
IDPVCD X106 c/mLRun Duration DaysHarvest Viability%Harvest Titer mg/L
Control16.41324.51002
BR116.31421.6928
BR215.81420.9946
  • Both BR showing similar growth and viability profile as control
  • Data is reproducible and process is scalable (1L BR to 5L BR)
  • Using galactose with 0.15% and 0.2% did not impair the cell growth, viability as well as titer
  • Harvest Titer is comparable for both 5L BR to the Control

5L BR – Analytics Summary

BioExpress 5L Bioreactor Purification Data
Protein A Drip Column PurificationTiter Calculations
Sample#IDSample Volume(ml)Harvest Processed (ml)Elution Volume (ml)Conc.by A280 (mg/ml)Yield of protein A Eluate (mg/ml)Conc.by Octet (mg/ml)Load (mg)(Yield/Load)* 100-Titer Recovery (%)
1BR150550.904.50.9284.696.98
2BR250550.804.00.9464.784.57

 

HPCL-SEC PurityclEF Purity
Sample#IDMain Peak (%)HMWS (%)LMWS (%)Main Peak (%)Sum of basic (%)Sum of Acidic (%)Averagepl
1Originator100.000.000.0050.937.012.28.6
21L BR99.930.170.0046.126.627.48.4
35L BR199.950.050.0041.632.635.98.5
35L BR299.850.050.0041.632.625.98.5

5L BR Glycan Profile

 

Glycan profile for 5L BR1 and BR2 improved the glycan profile to be comparable to the innovators.

Case study – Anti-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibiting Agent using Aragen’s proprietary GS Vector

  • Stable bulk pool (BP) evaluation reached ~700mg/L
  • Single cell clone (SCC) from BP reached up to 2g/L with clones showing stability up to 60 days
  • Mini pool (MP) generated, and MP reached up to 4.2g/L
  • SCC were generated from the top 2 mini-pools and fed-batch shake flask reached up to 6 g/L
  • Single cell clones show stability over 60 days in respect to cell growth, maintaining high viability and specific productivity
  • Using Aragen’s optimized process from transfection to Single cell cone evaluation completed in 18wks

Summary Table for Aragen CHO GS Anti-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibiting Agent MP SFQ
MP ID% Viability at HarvestPVCD E6 c/mLHarvest Titer (mg/L)
5D791224281
3G488164245
1A1083142961
3E593172728
4B684131123
3G790121065
4C2699687
4E28612539
Summary Table for Aragen CHO GS Anti-inflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibiting Agent SSC SFQ
SCC ID% Viability at HarvestPVCD E6 c/mLHarvest Titer (mg/L)
3G4-4F886185964
3G4-2C379145719
5D7-3C486225607
3G4-10D1176154977
5D7-6E1095284829
5D7-10A391274771
3G4-9H677144744
5D7-4D880174721
5D7-3F1189254611

Stability study of Single Cell Clones (SCC) from Bulk Pool (BP)

  • Completed stability study on top 3 SCC from BP
  • Completed 60 days stability both with and without selection.
  • High viability, good growth rate, shorter dT
  • All three SCC showed stable specific productivity up to 60 days

Typical Instruments utilized for: Media and feed screening, process optimization in bioreactor and scalability

To Increase the Titer & Robust scalable USP Development

AMBR250

Key Highlights

  • Ambr250 is a bioreactor system for parallel fermentation or cell culture development with intuitive programming and maximum flexibility.
  • Equipped with fully automated liquid handling platform.
  • The Design of Experiments (DoE) software allows you to complete the process design for up to 24 fermentations with wide range of cells, at a time with enabled investigative capability.
  • The High Throughput provides an efficient and rapid scale up system to explore a wide range of conditions and strains with scalability to both bench top and larger stirred tank bioreactors.
  • It provides high precision environment to support the demands of mammalian cultures.

Productivity

Drastically improves productivity and enables full DoE experiments to be performed at a fraction of the cost compared with traditional bench top reactors.

Versatility

Provides a highly parallel system to rapidly develop processes for clones or strains in wide range of cells in bioreactors that have full individual control of culture conditions.

Scalability 

Optimum scalability can be obtained due to presence of bioreactor vessels that are geometrically like larger bioreactors. Furthermore, all processes on the system that correlate empirically to that of the large bioreactors.

Convenience 

Fully integrated to sensors that eliminates long hours the users spend in the lab, manipulating, cleaning,  or setting up the experiment. For more information, contact bd@aragen.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Cell line development is a process by which a large population of identical cells is created, containing the gene that, on translation, encodes the biologic (recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, bi-specific monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, vaccines). Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells and Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells for example, are among the most effective and prolific biological factories, and their cultures are utilized to produce novel cell lines. Apart from biologic production stable cell lines are also used in drug screening and gene functional studies.

To ensure the successful insertion of the vector in the host cell line several transfections are performed. When the transfected cultures are pooled together, it is called bulk transfection. To identify the best transfected cells or hot spots the bulk transfection is divided into several tiny populations called minipools and the leftover is referred as the bulkpool. Minipools help identify the high producing cells. Bulkpool is used for a fed-batch production run to generate materials that is purified and analysed as an analytical standard or benchmark against the expected product quality.

Clone screening is a process by which the transfected pools is analyzed for the cells those carrying the desired genomic changes and expressing the target protein. clone screening is a complex process because the performance of the clones is unpredictable in different culture conditions therefore the higher the number of clones screened the greater are the chances of discovering the high producing clone. Once a few efficient clones have been identified, multiple assays should be carried out to build a thorough picture of the features of each before selecting the best performing clone.

Clonality is one of the most crucial steps in guaranteeing cell line quality and safety. The FDA currently require evidence that each cell line used in manufacturing has been generated from a single cell. Single cell cloning (SCC) is a method in which single cells are separated from the pool of transfected pool such that final MCB is generated from the single cell and produces identical product. SCC is currently achieved using two commonly used methods i.e., single cell sorting using FACS and limiting dilution.

Research cell bank is a small cell bank produced under research conditions used for the production of a biotherapeutic for research purpose only. A master cell bank (MCB) is generated from a research cell bank (RCB) when cell line development is completed. Cells from a RCB are thawed and expanded, and when cell counts reach the desired number, a MCB is prepared and stored in a LN2 freezer.