Mini bioreactor scoops double award

A new mini bioreactor which was developed by two key industry partners has been named ‘best collaboration’ at the recent Bioprocess International (BPI) Awards.

TAP Biosystems, the cell culture and fermentation division of the Sartorious group, and Merck received the for the ambr250 mini bioreactor system, which was developed by both firms, who claim that the system is a ‘major breakthrough’ for biotechnology.

In addition to ‘best collaboration’, the system also won ‘best technology application — upstream’ for the ambr250 automated mini bioreactor system against other excellent products such as the Xcellerex XDR-50 MO fermenter system and the MaxCyte STX Scalable Transfection System.

Mwai Ngibuini, ambr250 Product Manager stated: “The main aim of our collaboration with Merck was to develop a simple to set up, single-use mini bioreactor system which has the versatility to replicate traditional bioreactors and fermenters for culturing mammalian and microbial cells. To achieve this we listened carefully to the bioprocessing experts that would use the system, as well as the context into which it would be placed and then worked tirelessly to deliver their vision.”

Ngibuini continued: “We’re delighted to win these awards with Merck because it indicates that the time and effort we all put into this partnership has really been worthwhile and the ambr250 is viewed by our bioprocess peers and experts as breakthrough technology, which has the potential to totally transform process development of antibody and protein-based therapeutics.”