Full-Time
Contract development and manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals
$118k - $162.8k/yr
Senior, Expert
North Carolina, USA
Candidates must be based in North Carolina.
KBI Biopharma focuses on helping clients develop biological products by providing contract development and manufacturing services. The company specializes in creating cell lines using various established systems, including mammalian and microbial methods, to produce recombinant proteins. This process allows KBI Biopharma to support clients in meeting their project timelines and budgets, particularly for preclinical programs. What sets KBI Biopharma apart from its competitors is its ability to offer both standalone cell line development and fully integrated process development services, catering to a wide range of clients from biotech startups to large pharmaceutical companies. The company's goal is to minimize risks for its clients while enhancing the availability of important medicines globally.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Early VC
Total Funding
$9.6M
Headquarters
Durham, North Carolina
Founded
1996
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Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Sabbatical Leave
Performance Bonus
Alanis Therapeutics (ATI) signed a manufacturing agreement with contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) KBI Biopharma, to develop and manufacture its lead candidate preclinical antibody.
The biopharmaceutical industry’s pursuit of streamlining complex development and manufacturing workflows is driven by process intensification and integration of automation, continuous processing, and single-use system solutions.This strategy is especially relevant in the current landscape, where recent global health crises are directing the adoption of more versatile and economical manufacturing solutions, while adhering to stringent regulatory requirements.Table of contentsHallmarks of process intensificationFirstly, process intensification affords opportunities for significant cost savings.“Process intensification strategies may help reduce capital costs by purchasing smaller-scale equipment (and associated consumables), for example. Where continuous processing is implemented, as an example of a process intensification approach, there is a reduction in the requirement for large storage tanks for holding of intermediate process streams.” Laetitia Aurand, Research Associate, Upstream Process Development at KBI BiopharmaFurthermore, implementing process intensification plays a significant role in reducing facility footprints.As well as improvements in productivity, one of process intensification’s key drivers is to guarantee and eventually improve quality. “With effective monitoring and control tools in place, you should achieve consistent performance, ensuring processes are executed to high standards with the flexibility to refine quality profiles over time,” added Laetitia.The upside, as a result, is an increased manufacturing success rate, aiding companies in bringing complex therapies to market where they previously failed using traditional methods.Process intensification strategies that deliverLaetitia mentioned that one approach for optimization of a fed-batch process could be achieved by working with higher cell densities at the cell bank level. It allows reduction of the expansion phase timelines by reducing the number of passages before a production bioreactor.This strategy also allows the inoculation of the production bioreactor at higher cell densities, reaching the production phase faster. This helps achieve higher productivity, creates opportunities to reduce timelines during production and improve facility throughput.Laetitia then explained the benefits of continuous strategies when implemented in upstream processes. “Perfusion, when employed in the expansion phase, can as well reduce timelines,“ she said
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are promising delivery tools for gene therapy and are used in many clinical studies. However, less than ten AAV-based therapies have been approved to date. To mitigate the risk of serious side effects and even death, a comprehensive quality control and characterization process is crucial. This process includes identifying features that may influence efficacy and safety but are not yet fully understood.AAVs have considerable potential for developing new therapies for untreatable genetic diseases, including ocular, neuromuscular, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders and cancer.Several AAV serotypes exist with different tissue tropisms that allow for targeted delivery of genetic material to specific tissues, such as muscle or brain. While the first targeted therapies have been approved, e.g., for retinal dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, several serious and sometimes even fatal side effects, including severe inflammation and liver failure, have hindered the widespread adoption of AAV-based gene therapies.Similar to other therapeutic biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, thorough analytical characterization and process control are essential to ensure efficacy and safety.Table of contentsThe importance of AAV characterizationBecause AAVs are commonly found in humans, they are considered safe to use. However, the viruses can induce an immune response, especially with repeated administration
Beyond Biotech - the podcast from Labiotech. Developing treatments for rare pediatric diseases
In the realm of biotechnology, use of mammalian cell lines has emerged as a cornerstone in the production of vital biotherapeutics and vaccines. In this article, we dive into the key characteristics of mammalian cell lines that have earned them their critical role in the development of biologics. We examine how expertise and innovative tools in cell line development can be pivotal in advancing a therapy’s path to success.Mammalian cell lines come into play when a complex protein of interest has been discovered as a potential treatment or cure for a disease. Serving as mini-factories, these cell lines help in production of the protein by integrating genes encoding the protein of interest into host cells. Subsequent steps involve screening and isolating high-yield cell lines, enabling the large-scale expression of the protein for further clinical testing or even eventual use in patients once the therapy is approved.Table of contentsThe power of mammalian cell linesWhat are mammalian cell lines?“Mammalian cell lines consist of immortal cells derived from humans or other mammals,” explained Séverine Fagète, Ph.D., Vice President of Mammalian Cell Line Development at KBI Biopharma, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). “These cell lines have been integral to biopharmaceutical research since 1951 and possess the capacity for indefinite cultivation due to continuous divisions.”Unraveling the reasons behind why mammalian cells have become a biological tool of choice in the production of vaccines and therapeutic proteins, she continued: “Mammalian cells present two key advantages over other cell types such as microbial cells