Copenhagen, 31st October 2008 - Upfront Chromatography A/S, the world’s leading developer of customized industrial scale separation technologies, today announced the launch of MabDirect MM Fixed-D 50 ml, the world’s first disposable chromatographic column based on the Company’s Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) platform, Rhobust™. The pre-packed, pre-sanitized antibody purification columns eliminate the need for pre-filtration steps required by conventional columns, with the added benefits of cost-effectiveness and flexibility associated with disposable chromatography.
 
MabDirect MM Fixed-D 50 ml columns are packed with MabDirect Mixed Mode adsorbent for the efficient purification of monoclonal antibodies and provide a working capacity of approximately 30 g/L. The column units are stable to 1 M NaOH solution, enabling easy and effective cleaning between-cycles. The construction of cost-effective, single-use columns from plastic is made possible as the design of the columns eliminates the generation of pressure during operation. The columns can be operated on the ÄKTA chromatography or similar systems or with a peristaltic pump.
 
“The flexibility offered by the new disposable columns will be a major benefit for multi-product facilities such as CMOs and pharma pilot plants,” said Allan Lihme, Technical Director, Upfront Chromatography. “Effectiveness is also increased due to the elimination of the need for clarification, as EBA-based Rhobust™ technology allows the loading of crude feedstock directly into adsorption units.“
 
MabDirect MM Fixed-D 50 ml columns are based on Upfront Chromatography's proprietary universal processing platform, Rhobust, a 2nd generation EBA technology. Rhobust has been implemented in a range of industrial settings for commercial-scale recovery and purification of functional biomolecules, directly from crude feedstocks. The combined advantages of disposability and crude feedstock processing have delivered a single high-yielding system, which eliminates the requirement for both cleaning validation and further clarification steps such as filtration and centrifugation. Upfront Chromatography plans to launch additional products based on Rhobust in 2008, including disposable columns with Protein A adsorbents and a 2-pump version of MabDirect MM Fixed- D.
 

About Upfront Chromatography
Upfront Chromatography A/S develops and manufactures innovative products and technologies for extraction and recovery of biotherapeutics, functional biomolecules, macromolecular complexes, and even living cells, directly from bioreactors and industrial side-streams.
For customised separation services, Upfront Chromatography offers access to its proprietary universal process platforms combined with extensive technical and regulatory support. From a feasibility study to commissioning of the final installation, Upfront Chromatography works with its customers to develop adsorbents, ligand chemistry, columns and other hardware to optimise process performance. Upfront Chromatography's research, development and ISO9001-compliant manufacturing facility is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information please visit: www.upfront-dk.com.
 

For further information, please contact:

Upfront Chromatography

Natalya Clark, PR/Marketing Manager

nac@upfront-dk.com
T: +45 39 27 37 63