The iCAP Project (Integrated Continuous and Automated Platform for Plasmid Production) is partly consequent from the success of the ECOnti collaboration for continuous protein production that united enGenes with development partners novasign® and Qubicon® AG to pioneer continuous production processes for proteins.
Transformational project
The goal of iCAP is to establish a scalable, intelligent pilot system that can deliver consistent, cost-effective, and eco-friendly pDNA for cell and gene therapy, viral vectors, and mRNA vaccines. If successful, it will create the first single fully continuous low-cost pDNA production center to be found anywhere in the world.
This would be transformational for the pharma and biotech industries that currently face challenges with current pDNA production methods that are inefficient and costly, relying on discontinuous batch and fed-batch processes. Cost-effective and efficient continuous production of pDNA would enable a significant reduction in the manufacturing costs of the novel drugs required for medical progress.
Advanced technologies
iCAP will use genetically stabilized Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains, combined with enGenes proprietary technologies such as -excess™ as an efficient and robust platform for the manufacturing of high-quality pDNA with upstream and downstream processes optimized to enable significant yield improvements, and exchange™, for enhanced production of plasmids without antibiotic resistance markers, enhancing safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Dr. Jürgen Mairhofer, CEO of enGenes, commented: “With iCAP we are looking to perfect a stable and efficient continuous process that ensures consistent high-quality pDNA production that can significantly reduce costs, and improve sustainability by minimizing waste and resource consumption.”
“In doing so, we can also create a scalable, automated production platform that can be applied to other biotechnological processes,” Dr. Mairhofer noted.
Combined strengths
The iCAP project will again unite enGenes’ innovative science-driven innovation in continuous plasmid manufacturing with novasign® expertise in development and optimization of bioprocesses using advanced machine learning solutions such as hybrid modeling tools and digital twins and Qubicon® AG’s digital platform for advanced real-time monitoring and flexible process control.
The whole iCAP project has benefited from additional funding provided by the Vienna Business Agency Wiener Wirtschaftsargentur.
About enGenes Biotech
enGenes Biotech GmbH (enGenes) is a contract research, development and manufacturing company that provides leading-edge technologies and production services focused on production of recombinant proteins and plasmid DNA. The company’s mission is to provide cost-effective and scalable production of recombinant proteins at a fraction of the current cost, allied to a vision of developing a world-class portfolio of cutting-edge protein production technologies, relevant to a broad spectrum of application fields.
enGenes has developed advanced technologies to drive more cost-effective recombinant protein production processes, including its proprietary enGenes -eXpress™ E. coli platform that achieves outstanding yields of soluble and active recombinant protein. enGenes -eXpress™ has been successfully applied for the manufacturing of enzymes and biopharmaceutical products that failed to give economically feasible yields in a conventional expression host. It has also developed platforms to optimize plasmid DNA production and enable easier production of antibiotic resistance-free products.
enGenes Biotech offers development and manufacturing services tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical and industrial biotech companies. The services include expression strain and vector development, fermentation process development and optimization, downstream process development, production of purified protein, technology transfer and scale-up support with technology out-licensing and co-development opportunities.
Find out more at: https://www.engenes.cc
Resources
Click on enGenes Biotech’s continuous microbial protein expression and purification to learn more.
Click on ECOnti – Accelerated, Low Ecological Footprint, Manufacturing to download factsheet on project.
Follow enGenes on LinkedIn for iCAP project updates.