Merck Millipore and the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology to Develop Optimized Process Control and Harvesting of Stem Cells Grown from Bioreactors

September 19, 2012, Darmstadt, Germany — Merck Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck, and the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences today announced a collaboration to develop optimized cell culture and harvesting processes for bioreactor-based stem cell cultures. Prof. Peter Czermak will lead the collaboration for the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology.

This project will focus on the development of a proprietary purification technology required to ensure removal of microcarriers and any particulates from stem cell products grown in the Mobius® CellReady disposable bioreactor. Ultimately, the project will deliver scalable devices, validation methods and associated protocols for purification of large scale cultures of stem cells in the disposable bioreactor.  Enzymes and techniques for increased efficiency and high yield recovery of stem cells will be identified, along with a set of robust process control and Quality by Design parameters. 

“As stem cell products progress through clinical trials, efficient and cost-effective large scale processing will be required,” notes Robert Shaw, Commercial Director of Merck Millipore’s Stem Cell Initiative.  “We are excited to be partnering with Professor Czermak on this project as his expertise in process characterization, control and harvesting will enable us to advance the technologies needed for commercialization of stem cell processing.”

“Merck Millipore was a clear choice for this development collaboration,” said Peter Czermak, Managing Director of the Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology.  Their in-depth knowledge of process development, single-use technologies, and the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals can be translated for use in industrializing the production of stem cells.”

Merck Millipore is developing a platform of scalable, disposable production solutions based on its Mobius® CellReady bioreactor to enable more effective and efficient manufacture of cell-based therapies. 

For more information, please visit www.merckmillipore.com/stemcells.  

About Merck Millipore
Merck Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers’ success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, Merck Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 67 countries and 2011 revenues of EUR 2.4 billion. Merck Millipore operates as EMD Millipore in the U.S. and Canada.

Note: Merck KGaA or Merck shall mean Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany