Merck Announces Collaboration with Transcenta for Continuous Manufacturing for Protein Therapeutics

Merck announced on Nov. 7, 2020 that it is entering into a collaboration with Transcenta, a biotherapeutics company, to initiate continuous manufacturing for protein therapeutics.

According to a Transcenta press release, the companies will start off by developing and designing process technologies, single-use systems, and automation, with plans to eventually focus on an expanding process and digital technologies to optimize a continuous manufacturing process. The companies will also co-develop a single-use flow-through polishing system using Transcenta’s integrated continuous bioprocessing (ICB) Platform as part of the partnership.

“Merck’s commitment and extensive expertise in next-generation manufacturing uniquely positions us to help transform Transcenta’s vision for a fully continuous manufacturing process into a reality,” said Ian Carmichael, vice-president and general manager of Bioprocessing, Life Science, at Merck in China, in the press release. “Our joint effort reflects a shared commitment to advance BioProcessing 4.0 and continuous bioprocessing to accelerate access to health for patients in China and across the world.”

“To fulfill our mission to deliver high quality and affordable innovative biologics to patients around the world, Transcenta is advancing our highly productive ICB platform for the manufacturing of any protein biologics through process intensification, automation, and power of continuous bioprocessing,” added Chris Hwang, chief technology officer at Transcenta, in the press release. “Merck’s BioContinuum Platform and broad portfolio make them an ideal collaborative partner to help us accelerate and realize the potential of ICB.”

Source: Transcenta​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​