New genetically engineered CHO cell line boosts protein expression and productivity
A novel Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line delivers up to two-fold higher protein expression and a three-fold increase in productivity, helping to meet the need for faster and more efficient cell line development.
Sartorius (Göttingen, Germany) has announced a new genetically engineered CHO host cell line that offers enhanced productivity and efficiency. Using proteomic profiling and targeted genome editing, the team has helped boost the potential of this already-seminal cell line for biotherapeutic production.
CHOs are among the most widely used cell lines for biologics production, thanks to their safety, biocompatibility and versatility, which makes them easy and cost-effective to manufacture on an industrial scale. Because of this, they are in demand, hence there is a growing need for faster and more efficient CHO cell line development.
To help fill this gap, Sartorius has created a CHO host cell line. The developers tested their new line across multiple cell line development campaigns, from DNA to lead clone, expressing a range of different therapeutic proteins.
At 5-liter bioreactor scale, the new host cell line demonstrated up to a two-fold increase in expression titers and up to a three-fold increase in productivity when compared to lead clones derived from the original wild-type CHO cells in traditional fed-batch processes. What’s more, product quality was not compromised, and the line’s performance was consistent across lots of target proteins, including IgG1, IgG4, Fc-fusion and bispecifics.
Moreover, under intensified bioprocessing in continuous perfusion, the engineered cells supported higher titers and long culture duration. For a selected clone expressing a monoclonal antibody, over a culture duration of up to 28 days, Sartorius reported a two-fold increase in titer per day, as well as sustained high cell density and viability above 80%.
Ultimately, the line was designed for reliability, which it delivered with over 90% of the clones that were analyzed, demonstrating continuous protein expression and maintaining low gene copy number over more than 70 generations.
These results bolster the conclusion that the novel CHO cell line is well-suited for supporting long-term, cost-effective manufacturing of a wide range of biotherapeutic modalities.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first engineered CHO host cell line to deliver performance at this exceptional level in the CLD market,” remarked Oscar Reif, Head of Corporate Research and Chief Technology Officer at Sartorius.
“This achievement only marks the beginning – our data scientists and cell engineers are already advancing the next generation of cell lines to push these innovations even further.”
This article is part of a Spotlight on cell line development, sponsored by Sartorius. Visit the full feature and discover expert insights on the topic.