Process Automation In Cell & Gene Therapy: Navigating Upstream

By Thomas Guyon, Ovizio Imaging Systems, and Hanna Lesch, Exothera

While cell and gene therapies (C&GT) are gaining traction in the clinic with some notable successes and potential “cures," the manufacturing process for these therapies remain challenging and costly. The upstream process is particularly complex, involving sensitive cells and multiple sequential steps which require close monitoring. At present, tracking cell-related parameters is typically done through offline sampling and manual analysis, which are not optimal for process control, productivity, consistency, and cost saving.

This article delves into some of the limitations of these current methods and how they can be vastly improved upon by the use of automation and online sampling. Cell culture monitoring with newer “smart” technologies has the potential to transform C&GT, improving process understanding, productivity, and cost-efficiency.