WuXi Biologics has unveiled WuXia293Stable, a new cell line development platform that addresses critical manufacturing challenges for complex biologics that cannot be efficiently produced using conventional CHO cell systems. The platform leverages HEK293 cells to eliminate truncation issues while maintaining high productivity levels for difficult-to-express molecules.
Addressing CHO Cell System Limitations
Traditional CHO cells have dominated recombinant protein expression due to their proven track record of high titers and good manufacturability. However, complex therapeutic modalities face significant compatibility issues with CHO expression systems, resulting in low titer levels and truncation problems. These issues stem from CHO-specific host cell proteins (HCPs) that compromise both the quality and functionality of sophisticated protein products.
The WuXia293Stable platform overcomes these limitations by utilizing HEK293 cells, which can eliminate or significantly alleviate truncation issues in complex molecules while maintaining high titer levels. This approach provides a solution for biologics that are sophisticated in both structure and function.
Platform Performance and Scalability
WuXi Biologics developed WuXia293Stable using its proprietary HEK293 cell line, derived from the company's established WuXia platform family. The new platform demonstrates productivity, quality and stability comparable to the original WuXia system while maintaining full process compatibility through robust growth and balanced metabolism.
The platform achieves fed-batch titers up to 5.0 g/L for monoclonal antibodies while significantly improving product purity. WuXia293Stable offers flexible scalability across culture scales to meet diverse research and pre-clinical development needs. The cell line maintains stable expression and consistent quality during long-term passages, enabling scalable clinical and commercial manufacturing at 2000L scale for fed-batch processes and 1000L scale for perfusion systems.
Comprehensive Service Integration
WuXi Biologics provides a complete suite of services for the WuXia293Stable platform, including cell bank testing and viral clearance validation as part of its integrated CMC solution. This comprehensive approach supports clients from early development through commercial manufacturing.
"We are excited to launch an industry-leading solution that significantly enhances the development of advanced therapeutics," said Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics. "WuXia293Stable stands as a powerful testament to WuXi Biologics' unwavering commitment to our vision that every biologic can be made and exemplifies our dedication to technological innovation."
Expanding Platform Portfolio
The launch of WuXia293Stable strengthens WuXi Biologics' WuXia platform family, which has generated over 1000 cell lines expressing monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, enzymes and other recombinant proteins for clinical and commercial manufacturing as of 2024. The platform family, accepted by regulatory agencies worldwide, can achieve yields up to approximately 11 g/L.
The WuXia platform family now includes WuXiaADCC Plus for developing afucosylated antibodies with enhanced ADCC response, WuXia RidGS for non-antibiotic cell line development, and the latest WuXia293Stable for expressing difficult-to-express molecules. The platform family continues to expand to address diverse customer requirements in the evolving biopharmaceutical landscape.
