Good Manufacturing Practice Environment Research Articles

Navigating workforce needs in the field of cell and gene therapy: results of workforce survey performed by the ISCT early-stage professionals committee.

The workforce landscape in the field of cell and gene therapy (CGT) continues to evolve. As new therapies receive approval and numerous clinical trials are underway, there is an increasing demand to understand training and career development within the CGT sector. The International Society of CGT (ISCT) early-stage professionals (ESP) committee has been conducting workforce surveys to understand the existing skillset of CGT professionals, including ESP, and to highlight critical areas where training programs may be required. Here, we report the findings of these muti-year workforce surveys. The survey was designed by ESP committee members and distributed primarily to ISCT members and the Canadian CellCAN network, mainly targeting ESPs (those within 10 years of their final degree or entry into the CGT field). The 2020 and 2021 surveys consisted of 19 questions covering respondents' educational background, demographics, employment status, employment sector and participation in continuing education. In 2023, the survey was expanded to include an additional 8 qualitative questions focusing on career development opinions and opportunities. The number of respondents was 58 in 2020, 61 in 2021 and 109 in 2023. Trends and summaries of the results over the 3 years are reported here. Manufacturing and process development were the most common job roles, as well as the most desired skills and the biggest workforce gap in the CGT sector. Over the 3 years, the percentage of respondents in managerial roles increased while those working in a Good Manufacturing Practice environment decreased. On the other hand, the percentage of respondents with an MS degree decreased, while those with a PhD degree showed an overall increase from 2020 to 2021 with a slight decrease in 2023. Finally, participants concluded that the lack of available positions as well as the lack of opportunities or support are the key hindrances in their career development. Collecting data to evaluate the workforce and training remains an important venture in the CGT field. Our survey showed that manufacturing and process development roles are in great demand, suggesting the need for continued workforce training of this critical need. The trends observed through the survey years also suggest a possible effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the CGT workforce, which may have stabilized since 2023. Overall, our survey shows that there is a need to address the workforce gap while also paying attention to the career development of those aspiring to join the CGT workforce.

Accelerating attribute-focused process and product development through the development and deployment of autonomous process analytical technology platform system.

Enabling real-time monitoring and control of the biomanufacturing processes through product quality insights continues to be an area of focus in the biopharmaceutical industry. The goal is to manufacture products with the desired quality attributes. To realize this rigorous attribute-focused Quality by Designapproach, it is critical to support the development of processes that consistently deliver high-quality products and facilitate product commercialization. Time delays associated with offline analytical testing can limit the speed of process development. Thus, developing and deploying analytical technology is necessary to accelerate process development. In this study, we have developed the micro sequential injectionprocess analyzer and the automatic assay preparation platformsystem. These innovations address the unmet need for an automatic, online, real-time sample acquisition and preparation platform system for in-process monitoring, control, and release of biopharmaceuticals. These systems can also be deployed in laboratory areas as an offline analytical system and on the manufacturing floor to enable rapid testing and release of products manufactured in a good manufacturing practiceenvironment.

Single‐Use Systems in Aseptic Processing: Sterility Risk Mitigation Using a Point of Use Integrity Test

AbstractIn this case study, a biotech drug product manufacturing site located in Bari/Italy was looking to develop a single‐use system integrity test at the point of use. The aim was to support the implementation of single‐use technology for filling of an innovative immune‐oncologic drug using a state‐of the‐art manufacturing isolator line. This publication describes the method development and validation of a process‐specific single‐use system integrity test considering both the technical challenges of testing the integrity of a single‐use system as well as the integrity assurance requirements in a good manufacturing practice environment.

National Blood Foundation 2021 Research and Development summit: Discovery, innovation, and challenges in advancing blood and biotherapies.

National Blood Foundation 2021 Research and Development summit: Discovery, innovation, and challenges in advancing blood and biotherapies.

Tracking the Behavior of Monoclonal Antibody Product Quality Attributes Using a Multi-Attribute Method Workflow.

The multi-attribute method (MAM) is a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based method that is used to directly characterize and monitor many product quality attributes and impurities on biotherapeutics, most commonly at the peptide level. It utilizes high-resolution accurate mass spectral data which are analyzed in an automated fashion. MAM is a promising approach that is intended to replace or supplement several conventional assays with a single LC-MS analysis and can be implemented in a Current Good Manufacturing Practice environment. MAM provides accurate site-specific quantitation information on targeted attributes and the nontargeted new peak detection function allows to detect new peaks as impurities, modifications, or sequence variants when comparing to a reference sample. The high resolution MAM workflow was applied here for three independent case studies. First, to monitor the behavior of monoclonal antibody product quality attributes over the course of a 12-day cell culture experiment providing an insight into the behavior and dynamics of product attributes throughout the process. Second, the workflow was applied to test the purity and identity of a product through analysis of samples spiked with host cell proteins. Third, through the comparison of a drug product and a biosimilar with known sequence variants. The three case studies presented here, clearly demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the MAM workflow that implies suitability for deployment in the regulated environment.

An Automated and Qualified Platform Method for Site-Specific Succinimide and Deamidation Quantitation Using Low-pH Peptide Mapping

mAbs undergo several post-translational modifications, including the formation of succinimide from the deamidation of asparagine or the isomerization of aspartic acid. Because of the potential impact of succinimide formation on the biological activity of mAbs, detection and quantification of this species is a key area of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. However, studies assessing succinimide stability have been limited, and methods developed to monitor succinimide are either product specific or not robust. Here, we report the development of a platform low-pH peptide-mapping method using a combination of low-pH-resistant Lys-C and modified trypsin to maintain succinimide stability, eliminate deamidation assay artifact, and achieve efficient mAb digestion equivalent to conventional tryptic peptide-mapping method under alkaline condition. Using this method, succinimide stability in serum was accurately assessed in vitro study and the half-life was determined to be 1.5 days. With potential patient exposure to succinimide intermediate, a reliable method was developed to measure site-specific deamidation and succinimide intermediate. Coupled with a single quadrupole mass detector, our method was automated from digestion to data processing and applicable in a good manufacturing practice environment. The method was fully qualified to demonstrate accuracy, precision, linearity, and robustness.

Robust depth filter sizing for centrate clarification.

Cellulosic depth filters embedded with diatomaceous earth are widely used to remove colloidal cell debris from centrate as a secondary clarification step during the harvest of mammalian cell culture fluid. The high cost associated with process failure in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) environment highlights the need for a robust process scale depth filter sizing that allows for (1) stochastic batch-to-batch variations from filter media, bioreactor feed and operation, and (2) systematic scaling differences in average performance between filter sizes and formats. Matched-lot depth filter media tested at the same conditions with consecutive batches of the same molecule were used to assess the sources and magnitudes of process variability. Depth filter sizing safety factors of 1.2-1.6 allow a filtration process to compensate for random batch-to-batch process variations. Matched-lot depth filter media in four different devices tested simultaneously at the same conditions was used with a common feed to assess scaling effects. All filter devices showed <11% capacity difference and the Pod format devices showed no statistically different capacity differences.

Development of a lauric acid/albumin hybrid iron oxide nanoparticle system with improved biocompatibility.

The promising potential of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in various nanomedical applications has been frequently reported. However, although many different synthesis methods, coatings, and functionalization techniques have been described, not many core-shell SPION drug delivery systems are available for clinicians at the moment. Here, bovine serum albumin was adsorbed onto lauric acid-stabilized SPIONs. The agglomeration behavior, zeta potential, and their dependence on the synthesis conditions were characterized with dynamic light scattering. The existence and composition of the core-shell-matrix structure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. We showed that the iron oxide cores form agglomerates in the range of 80 nm. Moreover, despite their remarkably low tendency to aggregate even in a complex media like whole blood, the SPIONs still maintained their magnetic properties and were well attractable with a magnet. The magnetic properties were quantified by vibrating sample magnetometry and a superconducting quantum interference device. Using flow cytometry, we further investigated the effects of the different types of nanoparticle coating on morphology, viability, and DNA integrity of Jurkat cells. We showed that by addition of bovine serum albumin, the toxicity of nanoparticles is greatly reduced. We also investigated the effect of the particles on the growth of primary human endothelial cells to further demonstrate the biocompatibility of the particles. As proof of principle, we showed that the hybrid-coated particles are able to carry payloads of up to 800 μg/mL of the cytostatic drug mitoxantrone while still staying colloidally stable. The drug-loaded system exhibited excellent therapeutic potential in vitro, exceeding that of free mitoxantrone. In conclusion, we have synthesized a biocompatible ferrofluid that shows great potential for clinical application. The synthesis is straightforward and reproducible and thus easily translatable into a good manufacturing practice environment.

Quality Risk Management: Putting GMP Controls First

This paper presents a practical way in which current approaches to quality risk management (QRM) may be improved, such that they better support qualification, validation programs, and change control proposals at manufacturing sites. The paper is focused on the treatment of good manufacturing practice (GMP) controls during QRM exercises. It specifically addresses why it is important to evaluate and classify such controls in terms of how they affect the severity, probability of occurrence, and detection ratings that may be assigned to potential failure modes or negative events. It also presents a QRM process that is designed to directly link the outputs of risk assessments and risk control activities with qualification and validation protocols in the GMP environment. This paper concerns the need for improvement in the use of risk-based principles and tools when working to ensure that the manufacturing processes used to produce medicines, and their related equipment, are appropriate. Manufacturing processes need to be validated (or proven) to demonstrate that they can produce a medicine of the required quality. The items of equipment used in such processes need to be qualified, in order to prove that they are fit for their intended use. Quality risk management (QRM) tools can be used to support such qualification and validation activities, but their use should be science-based and subject to as little subjectivity and uncertainty as possible. When changes are proposed to manufacturing processes, equipment, or related activities, they also need careful evaluation to ensure that any risks present are managed effectively. This paper presents a practical approach to how QRM may be improved so that it better supports qualification, validation programs, and change control proposals in a more scientific way. This improved approach is based on the treatment of what are called good manufacturing process (GMP) controls during those QRM exercises. A GMP control can be considered to be any control that is put in place to assure product quality and regulatory compliance. This improved approach is also based on how the detectability of risks is assessed. This is important because when producing medicines, it is not always good practice to place a high reliance upon detection-type controls in the absence of an adequate level of assurance in the manufacturing process that leads to the finished medicine.

Development and validation of a procedure to isolate viable bone marrow cells from the vertebrae of cadaveric organ donors for composite organ grafting

Donor-derived vertebral bone marrow (BM) has been proposed to promote chimerism in solid organ transplantation with cadaveric organs. Reports of successful weaning from immunosuppression in patients receiving directed donor transplants in combination with donor BM or blood cells and novel peri-transplant immunosuppression has renewed interest in implementing similar protocols with cadaveric organs. We performed six pre-clinical full-scale separations to adapt vertebral BM preparations to a good manufacturing practice (GMP) environment. Vertebral bodies L4-T8 were transported to a class 10 000 clean room, cleaned of soft tissue, divided and crushed in a prototype bone grinder. Bone fragments were irrigated with medium containing saline, albumin, DNAse and gentamicin, and strained through stainless steel sieves. Additional cells were eluted after two rounds of agitation using a prototype BM tumbler. The majority of recovered cells (70.9 ± 14.1%, mean ± SD) were eluted directly from the crushed bone, whereas 22.3% and 5.9% were eluted after the first and second rounds of tumbling, respectively. Cells were pooled and filtered (500, 200 μm) using a BM collection kit. Larger lumbar vertebrae yielded about 1.6 times the cells of thoracic vertebrae. The average product yielded 5.2 ± 1.2 × 10(10) total cells, 6.2 ± 2.2 × 10(8) of which were CD45(+) CD34(+). Viability was 96.6 ± 1.9% and 99.1 ± 0.8%, respectively. Multicolor flow cytometry revealed distinct populations of CD34(+) CD90(+) CD117(dim) hematopoietic stem cells (15.5 ± 7.5% of the CD34 (+) cells) and CD45(-) CD73(+) CD105(+) mesenchymal stromal cells (0.04 ± 0.04% of the total cells). This procedure can be used to prepare clinical-grade cells suitable for use in human allotransplantation in a GMP environment.

A non-viral gene delivery system designed for clinical use.

Gene delivery can be accomplished using non-viral systems, and these have received increased attention These include ex vivo transfection of cells using an electric field to induce transient cell-membrane permeability (electroporation). This approach has the distinct advantage of not requiring the inclusion of a secondary agent (e.g. a lipid, viral package or carrier protein) any of which can be immunogenic or toxic. Available electroporation systems utilize a low volume (<1 mL) processing chamber and are open systems. The MaxCyte system employs a continuous flow design and can very rapidly process volumes ranging from 0.02 mL to >1 L. Transgenes for markers (eGFP) and functional proteins (e.g., cytokines, angiogenic factors) have been loaded in plasmids up to 14 kB in size. With appropriate application of pre- and post-processing cell manipulations, very satisfactory loading efficiencies and cell viability have been obtained. Cells can be processed with multiple plasmids, resulting in expression of the corresponding number of gene products. This capability has been considered for therapeutic and bioprocessing applications. The MaxCyte system was designed specifically for ex vivo clinical applications. The electrodes are manufactured of special materials and under precise conditions, in order to eliminate potential risks from electrolytic effects. The processing chamber and associated containers can be provided as disposable, sterile, closed (or functionally closed) systems-quite similar to the disposable harnesses used with cell separators. This system is thus suitable for integration into a current good manufacturing practice environment.

Analytical Chemistry in a GMP Environment: A Practical Guide (edited by Miller, James M.; Crowther, Jonathan B.)

Emphasizes issues faced by analytical chemists working in the pharmaceutical industry subject to federal regulations, such as the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rules.

11 - Surgical Management of Early Invasive Cervical Cancer

In order to promote the clinical use of neural progenitor or precursor cells for treating neurological diseases and damage, we need to standardize culture procedures for these cells. The Chinese Association of Neurorestoratology put forward these standards for training operators, standardized use and management of materials and equipment, standardized isolation and culture for neural progenitor/precursor cells, and the standardized management in preservation, transport, and related safe operation procedures of the neural progenitors. These cultures and quality control standards also include the Good Manufacturing Practice environment, routine maintenance as well as the monitoring and reporting of the clinical-grade neural progenitor cells. The aim of these standards is to improve the therapeutic efficacy and minimize the possible side effects from lake of quality control.