Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry—they are used in immunotherapy to treat numerous illnesses, with high potency against emerging viruses. Since 2016, about 70% of all mAbs have been grown in the cell lines of Chinese hamster ovaries, which produce humanlike antibodies.
To make sure that no trace of these host cells remains in the final product, drug manufacturers rely on “spiking” studies that use live infectious viruses and require specialized Biological Safety Level laboratories and experienced personnel. In November 2022, San Diego-based Maravai LifeSciences, through its Cygnus Technologies business segment, launched its MockV RVLP Kit, which detects retrovirus-like particles (RVLPs) that can be produced during the manufacturing of drug products in hamster cell lines.
The test, which uses a manufactured, noninfectious virus instead of a real one, can be run without extra safety measures at a lab bench, enabling easier, earlier detection of a contaminated product. Today, Maravai works with nearly all of the top 25 pharma spenders.
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