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Launch of Flagship CellMaker PLUS™ - the World’s
first dual-mode single-use bioreactor
For immediate release 1st October 2007: Cellexus Biosystems plc, the PLUS
quoted specialist in the design of novel disposable technology for growing
cells, is pleased to announce the launch of its new flagship single-use
bioreactor CellMaker PLUS™ for the culture of all cell types.
The CellMaker PLUS is launched today at the BioProcess International conference
in Boston and includes a wealth of new technologies for the culture of all cell
types. This is accompanied by the fusion of single-use technologies that have
now been incorporated into a new disposable bag called the HybridBagTM. This
latest product is a world first of its kind and unifies the principles of
airlift (as applied in the CellexusBag™) with those applied in Stirred Tank
Reactors (STRs) in a single-use culture bag. The CellMaker PLUS bioreactor
together with the single-use component the HybridBag, perform several important
operations which significantly improve culture growth compared with shaker-flask
systems and other bioreactor designs.
The novel shape of the HybridBag is key to the effective mixing and dissolved
gas control. Cylindrical bioreactors need large paddles and baffles to disrupt
circular motion and create turbulent flow and shear forces. Mixing and aeration
in the HybridBag differs in that it is from top-to-bottom - quite literally
turning stirring on its head. This is achieved by using the flow of aeration
gases from the integrated sparge tube and the use of integrated propellers, all
of which are completely disposable.
In additional to this innovation, new oxygen sensors (called WIDGETS™), are now
integrated as standard in all HybridBags. These are used to measure the
concentration of dissolved oxygen and data is fed-back to the new CellMaker PLUS
Controller, which then regulates and adjusts the flow of air, nitrogen and
carbon dioxide to the cells. A similar WIDGET sensor is integrated into the
HybridBag to measure pH.
Dr Kevin Auton, CEO stated: “The CellMaker PLUS and the HybridBag are the next
generation of products from Cellexus Biosystems and are designed specifically
for mammalian cell culture but the system can equally be optimized for growing
oxygen hungry E.coli and Pichia pastoris. These innovations in single-use
bioreactors have been combined to achieve “the best of all worlds”. We will
start to see a progression to multi-modal or hybrid, single-use bioreactors that
perform multiple operations. New innovations being developed and some of the
challenges associated with manufacturing single-use products are being overcome,
and you will see more innovative combinations of these technologies. Certainly
we will see lower cost, truly single-use sensors in every culture bag.”
---ENDS---
Further Information:-
The CellMaker PLUS is available with two sizes of CellMaker PLUS Enclosures: 1-8
litre and 10-50 litre working volumes, and have a reduced footprint to save
valuable bench space.
The Technical Note describing the evaluation of the CellMaker PLUS with the use
of the HybridBag in a study with CHO-S cells can be downloaded from the
Company’s website at:
http://www.cellexusbiosystems.com/index_files/CellMaker%20PLUS%20technical%20note%20CHO-S.pdf
In addition, the Technical Note describes how the system can be readily adapted
to suit simple batch or complex fed-batch protocols, and the importance of
controlling oxygen in the process, particularly when low concentrations of CHO
cells are being cultured.
Enquiries:
Cellexus Biosystems plc +44 (0)1480 453 858
Kevin Auton Ph.D
www.cellexusbiosystems.com
Financial PR enquiries
Bishopsgate Communications Ltd. +44 (0)20 7562 3350
Jenni Herbert
Nick Farmer
cellexus@bishopsgatecommunications.com
Trade Press enquiries
Not This Limited +44 (0)1480 352 821
Jessica Auton
jessica.auton@notthislimited.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Cellexus Biosystems plc has developed a range of value-added disposables to
help researchers in the biopharmaceutical industry and academia develop new
biopharmaceutical products from cell lines. Biopharmaceuticals are the new breed
of medicines, generated by culturing cells in bioreactors. These medicines are
often proteins, such as antibodies, or can be vaccines. The potential of future
medical treatments offered by stem cell research would also fall within this
category. Sales of biopharmaceuticals reached US$60 billion in 2005 and are
growing at 20% per annum.
The Company has developed a family of products. Three products have all been
developed around the core technology - the CellexusBagTM and the HybridBagTM-
and are marketed under the name: CellMaker Lite2TM, CellMaker Lite2 HybridTM and
the CellMaker PLUSTM. These products offer significant technological
improvements for cell culture and cell growth to the biopharmaceutical industry
in the fast-growing single-use market.
Unlike competitive products, the CellexusBag products do not need to be shaken,
rocked or rolled, which means the equipment used to manage the cell culture
process is very simple and inexpensive. A patent application protecting the
Company's intellectual property was filed in December 2005 with a second patent
application filed in June 2007.
Corporate and product images can be downloaded from the Company’s website
http://www.cellexusbiosystems.com/index_files/CellexusBiosystemsMediaResources.htm
CELLEXUS BIOSYSTEMS PLC
(“Cellexus” or “the Company”)
(PLUS Markets: CBIO)
Launch of Flagship CellMaker PLUS™ - the World’s first dual-mode single-use
bioreactor
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