Project description
Monitoring bioreactors using mid-infrared spectroscopy
Biopharmaceuticals are typically produced by mammalian cell cultures in so-called bioreactors. Currently, biopharmaceutical production in bioreactors involves manual control of critical parameters such as metabolites and nutrients. Measuring their concentration manually is time consuming and liable to operative variation. Furthermore, insufficient control leads to low product quality and quantity. The German company IRUBIS GmbH has developed a novel robust sensor system that enables continuous monitoring of bioreactors using mid-infrared spectroscopy and single-use flow cells for the manufacturing of biological drugs, such as vaccines. The company has achieved technical and commercial validation through pilot testing with biopharmaceutical partners. The EU-funded SUPAIR Spectroscopy project aims to conclude technological developments and lay the groundwork for successful market commercialisation.
Objective
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs typically produced by mammalian cells in so-called bioreactors. It takes on average 10-15 years to bring a new drug to the market. Biomanufacturing costs can account for up to 30% of the overall costs needed to approve a new medicine. Currently, monitoring of bioproduction is mostly performed by using offline equipment that lacks robustness and has a reduced operational flexibility. Bioreactors are increasingly being monitored online and on real-time by means of Process Analytical Technologies (PAT). However, state-of-the-art techniques render both sub-optimal product quality and product efficiency. A few existing technologies based on Raman spectroscopy are highly expensive and probes are not robust enough, requiring consecutive sterilisation steps to be reused (raising water and energy consumption).
At IRUBIS GmbH (spin-off of the Technical University of Munich), we have developed SUPAIR, a novel and robust ATR-MIR Sensor System aiming to make online and single-use monitoring of bioreactors by mid-infrared spectroscopy to become standard in the manufacturing of medical drugs. This approach will lead to increased operational flexibility, reduced costs of the manufacturing process, and will accelerate time-to-market of higher quality medicines to the patients. In the course of the Phase 1 project, we have validated our technical and commercial roadmaps through pilot testing with relevant biopharmaceutical players. Now we are getting closer to market, and we expect to conclude all technical developments and lay the ground for a successful market commercialisation by undertaking EIC Accelerator Pilot project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation bioreactors
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy absorption spectroscopy
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80335 MUNCHEN
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.