Cell culture media specialized for gene therapy production are uniquely designed to support the growth, viability, and productivity of cells used to manufacture gene therapy products, such as viral vectors (e.g., AAV, lentivirus, adenovirus). These media are critically important and distinct from general-purpose media due to the stringent requirements for safety, yield, and regulatory compliance in gene therapy.
Fujifilm Biosciences reports that it has launched BalanCD HEK293 Perfusion A to expand and augment the company’s portfolio of gene therapy application solutions. The medium uses suspension HEK293 cells and perfusion technology to provide scalable production of viral vectors for development of gene therapies, according to Erik Vaessen, chief business officer for the company.
HEK293 cells are well established for gene therapy applications in upstream bioprocessing, offering reliable growth rates, high transfection success, and expression of cellular factors needed for virus replication. Vaessen says BalanCD HEK293 Perfusion A further enables process optimization by maximizing cell growth, viability, and productivity, and supporting a range of applications, including viral vector production, transient protein expression, and recombinant protein production.
The medium, which is designed for high density perfusion culture, is available in a variety of media package options for continuous processing. The product is compatible with different types of transfection methods and is suited for both steady-state and intensified perfusion processes, notes Vaessen.
BalanCD HEK293 Perfusion harnesses the benefits of perfusion technology to enable a reduction in overall capital expenditures associated with AAV and LV production, key virus types for in vivo and in vitro gene transfer, he continues.
“Together, it can help maximize resources for consistency and scalability while providing clinical-quality, high-performing media that can support large-scale commercial batch sizes for advanced therapy development,” points out Vaessen.
