Recent advances in large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies and related proteins

The rapid development of high-yielding and robust manufacturing processes for monoclonal antibodies is an area of significant focus in the biopharmaceutical landscape. Advances in mammalian cell culture have taken titers to beyond the 5 g/l mark. Platform approaches to downstream process development have become widely established. Continuous evolution of these platforms is occurring as experience with a wider range of products is accrued. The increased cell culture productivity has shifted the attention of bioprocess development to operations downstream of the production bioreactor. This has rejuvenated interest in the use of non-chromatographic separation processes. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art industrial production processes, focusing on downstream technologies, for antibodies and antibody-related products and discuss future avenues for evolution.