ABEC has announced the commercial launch of the ATB™-2100 Advanced Therapy Bioreactor, a single-use cell expansion technology the company describes as designed to address the cell and gene therapy industry's need for scalable, reproducible and automated manufacturing.

A Closed, Automated Platform

According to ABEC, the ATB-2100 combines process control and scalability in a fully-closed and automated platform that supports cell expansion from preclinical development through commercial manufacturing. The company says the platform has successfully demonstrated the expansion of T-cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and other emerging modalities.

Hollow-Fiber Perfusion at the Core

ABEC says the core of the ATB-2100 is its proprietary network of hollow-fiber perfusion membranes, which continuously deliver nutrients and gases throughout the culture environment while removing metabolic waste. The system is described as emulating the human circulatory system with a diffusion-based, low-shear environment intended for cell growth. ABEC states that exceptionally high cell densities and viabilities are achieved because cells are not exposed to the stresses commonly associated with other platforms.

Consistent Scalability

ABEC says that unlike other cell expansion technologies that require process redevelopment during scale-up, the ATB platform maintains a consistent membrane surface-area-to-volume ratio across bioreactor volumes from 200mL to 10L. According to the company, this enables direct translation of process conditions from early-stage development through commercial production, which it says significantly reduces development timelines, minimizes risk during technology transfer and reduces time to market.

Executive Comment

"Cell and gene therapies continue to face significant development and manufacturing challenges that limit scalability, increase costs, and slow commercialization,“ said Scott Pickering, Chief Executive Officer of ABEC. ”The ATB™-2100 overcomes these barriers and represents another industry-changing advancement pioneered by ABEC."

Company Background

ABEC describes itself as a leading global provider of engineered solutions and services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The company says it has more than 50 years of innovation and combines bioprocess equipment expertise, engineering, manufacturing, automation and services to support the development and commercialization of therapies, from research and development through commercial implementation and lifecycle support.