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Developing effective and sustainable purification methods for advanced therapies through AstraZeneca’s BioVentureHub
Overview
In biopharmaceutical production, the purification process is a critical yet challenging stage, particularly when dealing with complex molecules like oligonucleotides. For example, producing just 1 kg of pure biopharmaceutical material for preclinical studies can require up to 8 tons of input material. The purification process is often a significant bottleneck, leading to high costs and extensive use of chemicals and solvents.
Spun out from Chalmers University of Technology in 2020, Nyctea Technologies joined the BioVentureHub in 2023 after its innovative purification technology was recognized as a promising new approach for developing sustainable solutions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
The challenge
A key challenge in biopharmaceutical manufacturing is to find and implement new purification technologies that not only increase yield but also reduce the reliance on harmful chemicals and solvents. Addressing this challenge requires innovative technologies that can increase yield, reduce processing time, and minimize the environmental impact. The ultimate goal is to make the purification process more efficient, sustainable and scalable for the production of biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapy medicinal products.
Nyctea makes devices that seamlessly connects to existing infrastructure for purification.
Approach: How the BioVentureHub catalyzed collaboration
The The AstraZeneca BioVentureHub has been instrumental in fostering collaboration between AstraZeneca and Nyctea Technologies, a company focused on pioneering sustainable purification methods. The BioVentureHub provided Nyctea Technologies with a platform to work closely with AstraZeneca’s Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D) team to explore how Nyctea’s technology could potentially complement AstraZeneca’s sustainable innovation and transformational excellence in product development and manufacturing.
The BioVentureHub has enabled Nyctea to connect with AstraZeneca’s extensive resources and expertise, facilitating the development and potential implementation of their novel technology together with a large biopharmaceutical company. Nyctea’s technology leverages electrification and digitalization to create a more dynamic purification process, where the binding and release of biomolecules can be controlled electronically. This innovation could significantly enhance the flexibility and sustainability of biopharmaceutical production.
Outcomes
The collaboration between AstraZeneca and Nyctea Technologies has shown promising results. Although the project is ongoing, early outcomes suggest that Nyctea’s technology could offer a more flexible and dynamic purification method, with significant potential to increase the efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. AstraZeneca has recognized the value that companies like Nyctea bring, complementing their own capabilities and allowing them to focus on core areas while exploring new, innovative solutions.
Nyctea Technologies has significantly benefited from this collaboration, expanding its operations and gaining valuable insights from AstraZeneca’s experienced teams. The support from the BioVentureHub team has been instrumental in advancing their technology and enhancing their market presence through a strategic and closely integrated collaboration with AstraZeneca.
“The move to the BioVentureHub has been a game-changer for us, accelerating our collaboration and significantly enhancing our ability to deliver impactful results. The BioVentureHub has provided us with an invaluable platform to explore, refine and test the industrial applicability of our technology, ensuring that we can meet the rigorous demands of the pharmaceutical industry."
The Nyctea Technologies team has grown rapidly since joining BioVentureHub.
"In the past year, Nyctea Technologies has made a lot of progress, through our collaborations, awards, funding and expanded networks. The BioVentureHub has been a catalyst for us. Since joining, we’ve experienced rapid growth and remarkable advancements."
"The BioVentureHub offers a unique opportunity for expanded support and fresh perspectives. We can achieve more together, embodying the strength of collaboration."
Conclusion.
The collaboration between AstraZeneca and Nyctea Technologies exemplifies how shared resources, expertise and a focus on sustainability can lead to significant advancements in the industry. As the project progresses, it holds the potential to revolutionize purification methods, making them more efficient and scalable.The AstraZeneca BioVentureHub has demonstrated the value of enabling explorative innovation; catalyzing a collaboration that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Read more about Nyctea Technologies here: https://nycteatechnologies.com/
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