Biopharma centre improves capability
13 Nov 2015
Life sciences firm Novasep has provided a biologics centre with protein purification technology.
Novasep and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) have equipped the National Biologics Manufacturing Centre, which was launched by the CPI in September, with a BioSC Lab - biochromatography equipment designed to purify a few grams of protein per day.
Based in Durham, the Biologics Centre is designed to help companies develop, improve and commercialise processes and technologies for biopharmaceutical manufacture.
Biopharmaceutical products, which are composed of biologics such as proteins and sugars, are pharmaceuticals derived from biological sources.
Via Novasep BioSC Lab, users will be able to develop high-yield production processes while maintaining the protein’s quality attributes, Novasep said.
“The installation of Novasep’s BioSC Lab will be a valuable asset to customers using the centre,” said Chris Dowle, director of biologics at the CPI.
Meanwhile, a report published by the Knowledge Transfer Network suggests that although the UK held over 200 biopharmaceutical products in R&D in 2012, the vast majority of manufacturing had been conducted elsewhere.
“Novasep and CPI both use innovation as a strategy to solve problems in biopharmaceutical manufacturing,” said Alain Lamproye, president of the Biopharma Business Unit at Novasep.
“We believe our BioSC Lab will contribute to helping the UK biopharma sector step into the future of manufacturing, where the demand is for simplification and flexibility,” he said.