Sensors, software aid disposable bioprocessing

Finesse Solutions and Biogen Idec are using software and sensor technologies on the job to refine existing bioprocessing platforms into home-grown single-use systems. Finesse will provide prototype sensors, software, and systems to Biogen Idec for use with the latter's bioprocessing platforms. Biogen Idec will undertake the single-use refinement work.

Finesse has a string of single-use technology announcements, including bioreactor control software announced last September. The software, TruBio version 3.4, can be used to automate 1L bench-top glass vessels as well as 1000L cGMP production single-use vessels. It includes data management and reporting for multi-sensor calibration. Pull-down menus or graphical faceplates aid in programming.

A lot of brainpower has been spent on disposable technology lately: Millipore last month unveiled a stirred-tank single-use benchtop bioreactor that's said to be ready to use out of the box. Millipore worked with Netherlands-based Applikon Biotechnology on the design, as reported in sister publication FiercePharma Manufacturing. And both Sartorious Stedim and Pall Life Sciences, among others, offer single-use components and systems.

- here's the Finesse/Biogen Idec release