
Closed and Aseptic Processes for Cell Therapy Manufacturing

What is a Closed System?
By definition, a closed system is one in which the manufacture of a product is isolated from both the surrounding environment and operators1. If gases or other reagents need to be added to the closed system, they must be pre-sterilized using validated terminal or filter sterilization methods and the addition must be done in a way that does not expose the product to an uncontrolled environment. A truly closed system with no environmental exposure eliminates the risk of contaminants, but the nature of certain process steps in cell therapy production may not currently be achievable in a closed system manner. As such, a “functionally closed system” allows users to perform unit operations in a realistic and logical but safe manner. In a functionally closed system, any open events, such as media exchange, are done in a controlled space such as a biological safety cabinet, and materials are handled in a manner to avoid contamination from the environment, operators, or other reagents.Closed Systems for Cell Therapy
In the paradigm of cell therapies where “the process is the product”, an efficient process is also a safe one. Consistent production schemes avoid batch failure and prevent costly investigations as well as recertification of the working space and extensive environmental testing. The implementation of closed systems can help developers achieve efficiency, and there are many technologies available to create a system compatible with a cell therapy process.Why is it important?
A closed system, by design, provides physical barriers to protect the operator when working with infectious agents and conversely, to protect the work from the risk of microbial contamination or cross-contamination from other patient samples. Particularly for large-scale manufacturing, closed systems mitigate the risk and cost associated with the failure or loss of batches as a result of contamination but convey the additional benefit of allowing flexibility in the manufacturing space. Enclosing a process eliminates the outside environment, which lessens the need for mechanisms that control that environment, such as dedicated clean rooms and biological safety cabinets (BSCs). Removing the requirement of cleanrooms permits a reduced facility footprint and better utilization of space, which all result in cost savings. Closed system technologies can also be incorporated with automation platforms, that not only improve product consistency by reducing operator variability, but also improve manufacturing efficiency and can reduce the vein-to-vein time critical in cell therapies.How to Achieve a Closed System?
The implementation of closed systems provides common benefits in process efficiency and safety, but there is no ”one-size-fits-all” in the design of a closed system process; a successful process will take into consideration the diversity of cellular products as well as facility layouts and capabilities; as such, processes are highly customized and will require development. The design of any closed system starts with a detailed analysis of the current process to identify key unit operations that are suitable for closure. For example, if there is a step in the manufacturing process that requires introducing materials to the product, sterile tube welding or aseptic connectors can be used to replace spike port needles or open pouring in a BSC. Another consideration in closed system design is the balance between risk and cost. Within a process, certain steps may bear lower contamination risk than others, or mechanisms to close that step may not yet be practical, either due to budgetary or facility constraints. While the ultimate goal is to have a fully integrated and complete closed system, designing such a process can be time consuming and financially costly. Therefore, an assessment can determine the risk level for unit operations where, if the contamination risk is low, closing that specific process step may not be necessary. As such, system closure can be achieved in a stepwise manner that prioritizes high-risk unit operations.
When to Consider a Closed System?
Within the life cycle of a cell therapy product, successes in research and development become discussions of process development, and concerns shift to scale-up or possible outsourcing to a contract manufacturer. This transition presents an opportunity to initiate closed system design and is a common point for Corning team members to interact with both developers and their chosen manufacturing partners. The natural consideration of scale in a process development discussion is also a key aspect of closed system design. Your chosen components and operations should be scalable across the phases of manufacturing, and flexible enough to allow a process to run in diverse types of manufacturing spaces.Summary
As demand for cell therapy products increases, viable cell therapy manufacturing processes must be scalable, consistent, and cost-effective. Implementation of a closed system in cell therapy manufacturing requires an initial investment but provides both short and long-term benefits. From batch to batch, closed systems lead to more robust and consistent manufacturing that helps manufacturers avoid the significant costs incurred by batch failures. In a larger context, closed systems enable manufacturers to work in more flexible environments that reduce capital and operational costs. Ultimately, closed system processes in cell therapy manufacturing provide a means for improving patient access to life-changing therapies.Footnotes
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1. Johnson J, Probst S, Palberg T, Gil P, Kennedy M, Rogalewicz J, Green K, Chalk S. Challenging the Cleanroom Paradigm for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing of Bulk Drug Substances. BioPharm International. Aug. 01, 2011.
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2. Estape D, Walker AL, Orichowskyj ST, Vega H, J. Pratt DJ. Proof of Closure: Life Cycle of Closed Systems. Pharmaceutical Engineering. Special Reports September/October 2017.