To continue our success story, we cannot simply adapt to the new pharmaceutical landscape; instead, we must innovate and pioneer relevant solutions for the modalities of the future.

Welcome to Chapter 6 – the final chapter of Curiouser and curiouser!

By Steve Burton, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Astrea Bioseparations

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As therapies evolve, so too must the companies providing technology to the industry. It is exciting to know that Astrea Bioseparations is already supporting the nascent gene therapy industry as it conquers myriad manufacturing challenges.

The purification target has changed, but the need for purification remains; indeed, whatever the modality, it seems likely that there will always be cellular components that are detrimental or simply not required.

Astrea Bioseparations’ current focus on developing new approaches for the purification of viral vectors is a case in point. One of our newer products, LentiHERO^®, is designed for the purification of (you guessed it) lentiviral vectors. LentiHERO^® relies on innovative nanofiber technology that came to Astrea Bioseparations via our acquisition of Nanopareil. Instead of using resins as the base for attaching affinity ligands, we rely on nanofibers, which are very well suited to viral vector targets. First, they form flow channels rather than pores, which allow large viruses to pass through. Second, they have an enormous surface area, which facilitates rapid binding and high capacity. This really is game-changing technology, so I’m happy to say that Astrea Bioseparations is not simply adapting to the new landscape but innovating and pioneering relevant solutions.

As life science advances, we don’t cease to rely on previous therapeutic successes. Though gene therapies are at the cutting edge, diagnostic improvements are delivering a new wave of patients who can benefit from tried and tested plasma products. Today, albumin is produced in huge quantities – globally over 1000 tonnes per year. IVIG also has many uses in immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. And there are a number of rare diseases driven by defects in plasma proteins or their production in the body; here, plasma products may be the only therapeutic option.

In short, the global demand for plasma protein products continues to increase despite the passage of time. At Astrea Bioseparations, we have a long history in plasma product purification, so we’re well positioned to serve this growing sector.

We may yet see further innovation in the plasma product space; imagine a future with protein-specific plasmapheresis aided by an affinity extraction device...

Whatever the future holds, I’ll be watching with curiosity.

Missed Chapter 5: Pride and patients? Read it here.