Selexis SA, Spinomix SA and the University of Lausanne Publish Novel, High-Throughput Technology Process for Isolation of High Secretion CHO Cell Clones

Paper in Biotechnology and Bioengineering describes faster and more efficient technology for isolation of high-production CHO cell lines for use in manufacturing biologics

Geneva, Switzerland, 20 SEPTEMBER 2017 – Selexis SA and Spinomix SA announced today the publication of their collaborative work describing a faster and more efficient technology for the enrichment of high-production Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell population for use in biologic manufacturing. Data from the research, which was conducted in collaboration with Nicolas Mermod, professor at University of Lausanne (UNIL), and members of his laboratory, have been published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (Vol. 114, No. 8) under the title “Automated Microfluidic Sorting of Mammalian Cells Labeled with Magnetic Particles for Those That Efficiently Express and Secrete a Protein of Interest.”

Selexis, UNIL and Spinomix have developed a novel two-step automated cell processing and sorting technology, based on Spinomix’s proprietary MagPhase™ technology, that is capable of screening millions of transfected CHO cell lines and isolating clones that have the highest secreting ability with high accuracy. The technology is based on labeling the cells with biotin-conjugated monoclonal antibodies that can be captured by avidin-conjugated magnetic particles and sorting the cells using the automated microfluidics. The sorting process can be completed in minutes utilizing procedures that are solely reliant on sterile and disposable cell-handling cartridges and are GMP-compatible. This technology, when used in combination with more traditional clone-picking technologies such as ClonePix, can result in a 23-fold enrichment in the number of highly secreting cells. It also allows for isolation of clones secreting difficult-to-express proteins that might otherwise be missed due to insufficient throughput.

“This technology represents our continued R&D efforts to identify and isolate top-secreting clones for CHO cell manufacturing and is an important addition to the SUREtechnology Platform™,” said Igor Fisch, PhD, CEO of Selexis.  “This innovative approach will potentially complement our existing technologies, including the SURE CHO-Mplus Libraries™ and SUREselect™, to provide the most comprehensive set of solutions for generating and rapidly selecting high-production clonal cell lines capable of secreting all types of proteins, including difficult-to-express proteins.”

“We are very enthusiastic about the efficiency and short run-time of our microfluidic MagPhase system in the cellular space as exemplified for CHO cells. The data adds more content and applications to the already high versatility of the platform in sample processing of cells and analytes of different natures,” said Lothar Wieczorek, PhD, member of the Spinomix Board of Directors.

Since the approval of Genentech’s Activase® in 1987 and IDEC’s Rituximab® in 1997, CHO cells have been the workhorse behind many blockbuster biologic drugs. Today, CHO cells are the most dependable host cells for large-scale production of therapeutic proteins. Manufacturing of biologics using CHO cells is much different today as the technologies, know-how, and even the CHO cell lines have significantly advanced. The Selexis SUREtechnology Platform improves the way CHO cells are used in the discovery, development and manufacturing of biologic drugs. 

Selexis SA is a pioneering life sciences company and a global leader in mammalian (suspension-adapted CHO-K1) cell line generation, providing unparalleled proprietary technology and the highly-specialized expertise that is necessary to translate scientific innovation into life-saving medicines for patients. Selexis’ SUREtechnology Platform™ facilitates the rapid, stable, and cost-effective production of virtually any recombinant protein and provides seamless integration of the bioproduction continuum, spanning discovery to commercialization. With more than 100 partners worldwide, 80+ drug products in clinical development and three commercial products utilizing Selexis-generated cell lines, the Company has a history of empowering scientists and biopharmaceutical companies around the world to realize the full potential of their research. More information is available at www.selexis.com.

Spinomix is a Swiss technology platform company providing innovative sample processing solutions to the life sciences sector.  Based at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the company is building the new gold standard for sample processing of biochemical substances. Its applications capture, enriches, purify and extract samples at a quality and efficiency far superior to current practice, thus enabling more efficient sample processing results. The company’s main focus is on applications which are critical for treatment decisions in a variety of human diseases.

Spinomix’ products MagPhase™ and FibroTrap™ improve the sensitivity and processing run-time to obtain meaningful results from samples that are highly heterogeneous and notoriously difficult to analyze (e.g.  blood, urine, swabs and food matrices). The company development strategy is to enter into collaborations with key market players in the life sciences and diagnostic industry for co-development and commercialization by the partner. Further information is available at our website www.spinomix.com.

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