BIA Separations adds upstream processing facility

The new facility will enable the Slovenian company to better link its upstream and downstream processing capabilities, in order to produce viral vectors, phages, and exosomes.

The company stated that the expansion of its manufacturing network would allow those employing its services “full coordination of critical step”​ in upstream processing.

This extends to include upstream choice of cell line, source and supply of materials, and bioreactor processing parameters.

Aleš Štrancar, CEO of BIA Separations, commented, “we now have the capability to manage the interface between upstream and downstream processes, which is key for complex biologics production.”​

Being able to manage the transition between upstream and downstream processing had been the objective when BIA had signed an agreement with Nuvonis​.

The partnership allowed BIA access to Nuvonis’ Vero cell bank, which linked up to the former’s chromatographic products.

At the time, Štrancar referred to better links between upstream and downstream processing as “the last frontier in bioprocess manufacturing” ​and, in its latest release, the company highlighted how the new laboratory will have the ability to improve downstream product purification, formulation and stability profiles.