Chromatography Experts to Discuss Novel Downstream Purification Technologies at BioProcess International Conference & Exhibition

Date: 
2017-09-19

Bio-Rad’s Preconference Workshop to Feature Industry Peers and Thought Leaders

Dr. Musaddeq Hussain and Dr. Giorgio Carta
Dr. Giorgio Carta (left) and Dr. Musaddeq Hussain (right) will be speaking at Bio-Rad’s preconference workshop on Monday, September 25, 1–4:30 PM.

HERCULES, Calif. — September 19, 2017 — Biopharmaceutical researchers from around the globe will discuss innovative chromatographic approaches and technologies for purifying diverse biomolecules during a preconference workshop sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. at the BioProcess International Conference & Exhibition in Boston, September 25–28. The workshop will take place at 1 PM on September 25 and focus on strategies for virus and monoclonal antibody purification, viral clearance, and aggregate removal.

“The workshop will bring industry professionals together to discuss how novel chromatography technologies can provide exceptional purification performance and high productivity,” said Carsten Voss, PhD, session chair and Application Specialist for Process Chromatography at Bio-Rad. “These new chromatography techniques can also help biopharma reduce capital costs, space requirements, and cycle time for downstream biotherapeutic purification.”

Workshop speakers will examine the interactions between protein molecules and chromatographic resins, which are critical to making the downstream process more efficient. They will also discuss how to efficiently capture target proteins from expression culture, how to remove and quantify impurities, and how to separate closely related species, such as product degradation fragments and high molecular weight aggregates.

Workshop takes place Monday, September 25, 1–4:30 PM. A networking reception will follow immediately.

Featured Talks and Demonstrations

Improved Resins for Reducing Antibody Aggregates
Giorgio Carta, PhD, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, will review recent developments in protein purification resins, with an emphasis on separating antibody aggregates by cation exchange chromatography and capturing and purifying large proteins by anion exchange chromatography using polymer-grafted resins.

Carta will present his recent work on the use of novel chromatographic resins to address the problem of protein unfolding on the resin surface, which can give rise to undesirable unfolded intermediates and aggregates.

“The potential for protein unfolding is a major concern during separation processes,” said Carta. “We are investigating novel large-pore resins based on a hydrophilic backbone that can prevent these phenomena and provide a more effective separation.”

He also will discuss how to achieve high dynamic binding capacities in the capture of large biomacromolecules by optimizing the support matrix’s porosity, the grafted polymers, and the mobile phase composition.

Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) for Host Residual DNA Quantification
Biologics manufacturers must demonstrate that the level of host residual DNA (hrDNA) in a purified drug is safe. Current methods for doing so require extracting DNA from biopharmaceuticals purified from bacteria or mammalian cells. Musaddeq Hussain, PhD, Principal Scientist, Merck Research Laboratories, will discuss an extraction-free method in which samples are subjected to digital PCR.

“We are already using direct Droplet Digital PCR methods for several types of hrDNA, such as E. coli and Pichia,” said Hussain. “We show that in some ways ddPCR works better than qPCR for detecting hrDNA.”

Demonstration of Bio-Rad’s New NGC Fraction Collector
Bio-Rad will demonstrate its new NGC Fraction Collector (NGC FC) at the company’s booth (#719). When combined with any model of Bio-Rad’s NGC Chromatography Systems, the NGC FC maximizes workflow efficiency. With the NGC FC researchers can access fractions without stopping a run, allowing faster downstream analysis of purified protein. Both small- and large-scale purification needs can be easily handled by collecting into deep well plates, tubes, bottles, and carboys.

Drug discovery and process development labs can maximize their purification workflow by using the NGC Chromatography Systems with a wide range of process chromatography resins, including best-in-class ion exchange resins and innovative mixed-mode resins.

Go to bio-rad.com/workshop2017 to register for the Downstream Purification Workshop.

Bio-Rad, Droplet Digital, ddPCR, and NGC are trademarks of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. in certain jurisdictions.

About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The Company employs more than 8,350 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2016. For more information, please visit www.bio-rad.com.

This release may be deemed to contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements we make regarding our development and launch of new products and our expectations regarding our products. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plan”, “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “can,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to develop and market new or improved products, product quality and liability issues, our ability to compete effectively, and international legal and regulatory risks. For further information regarding our risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” in Bio-Rad’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Bio-Rad cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Press Contact:
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
Laura Kronbetter
510-741-4841
laura_kronbetter@bio-rad.com

CG Life
Ken Li
312-997-2436
kli@cglife.com