Miltenyi Biotec, TeutoCell to Advance Cell Culture Techniques

BERGISCH GLADBACH, Germany, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Miltenyi Biotec, the only company to offer a seamless experimental integration path from sample preparation through cell separation, culture, and analysis for primary cells, today entered into a strategic alliance with TeutoCell, a provider of cutting edge cell culture technology. The new partnership will broaden that experimental integration path to include cell culture for biomanufacturing with the addition of five novel cell culture media. The first of these, CHOMACS CD, a medium for the production of biopharmaceutical proteins, becomes available as of today.

Based on TeutoCell's cell culture medium, CHOMACS CD has been successfully tested with 11 cell lines and clones, including CHO K1, CHO DP-12, and CHO DHFR-. It provides a low osmolality to reach an optimal basis for fedbatch processes, and is capable of creating cell concentrations of 1.5x107 cells/mL and beyond, depending on cell line. CHOMACS CD forms the two companies' base medium, and will soon be followed by a feed supplement.

"Every CHO clone reacts differently to different media, which can be a real pain for development teams when new clones are used to produce new biopharmaceuticals," explains Dr. Bernd Schroder, Head of Production Upstream Processing, Miltenyi Biotec. "CHOMACS CD is an excellent choice for a large range of clones, which means betting on Miltenyi Biotec is likely to save them a big headache."

To broaden the product spectrum and create more value for their customers, in addition to a feed medium for CHO cells, TeutoCell and Miltenyi Biotec are currently developing specialized culture media for HEK and Hybridoma cells. All media are chemically defined, animal component- and protein-free, or with low protein content, facilitating downstream purification and regulatory compliance. TeutoCell's media development and optimization methodologies involve parallel cultivation and data modeling for the most rational, effective, and customer-centric design of cell culture media.

"TeutoCell is committed to continually improving cell culture technology, while Miltenyi Biotec's expertise in cell processing, cell analysis and GMP production makes it an ideal partner for us to develop innovative technologies," concludes Stefan Northoff, CEO, TeutoCell AG.

Under the terms of the deal, Miltenyi Biotec will become the exclusive worldwide source of CHOMACS CD for the next five years, with an option to extend thereafter.

About Miltenyi Biotec

Miltenyi Biotec is one of the largest and most successful biotechnology companies in Germany, with more than 1,200 employees worldwide who develop, produce and sell products and services for biomedical research and clinical applications. Established in 1989, the company is still owned and run by its founder, Stefan Miltenyi, creator of the renowned MACS(R) Technology for magnetic separation of cells. MACS Technology has become the de facto industry gold standard in cell separation in research laboratories worldwide, while the name of Miltenyi Biotec has become synonymous with basic, translational, and clinical research in cellular therapy applications. http://www.miltenyibiotec.com.

About TeutoCell AG

Founded in 2009 by internationally renowned experts, TeutoCell AG provides superior solutions for pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions in the field of mammalian cell-based cultivation processes. TeutoCell has developed a range of ultrahigh performance, chemically defined, and animal component-free culture media for different types of production cell lines (including CHO, hybridoma, and HEK), meeting all necessary quality standards required by the regulatory authorities for GMP manufacturing processes by the regulatory authorities. Based on proprietary metabolic models and powerful analytical tools, and using its superior platform technology, TeutoCell offers targeted, rapid, and efficient services for development and optimization of specialized culture media for customers production cell lines. Extensive process and protein product analytics including extra- and intracellular substrate and metabolite quantification and protein glycosylation analysis complete TeutoCell's position as innovative product and service provider for cell culture technology. http://www.teutocell.de

    For further information, please contact:
    Prof. Dr. Uwe A. O. Heinlein
    Corporate Communications, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH
    Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 68, 51429 Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
    Phone +49-2204-8306-6590
    E-mail [email protected]

SOURCE Miltenyi Biotec GmbH