The product, called CellPrime rTransferrin AF, is the first animal-free alternative to serum-derived human or bovine transferrin that has applications in industrial cell culture and upstream biopharma.
Novozymes and Millipore’s partnership has targeted the creation of animal-free supplements to meet the growing demand for production processes free from potentially allergenic components.
Caspar Foghsgaard, senior manager at Novozymes, said: “We are pleased with the launch of our first commercial product and with the tremendous progress we have made in the first year of the alliance.
“Both Novozymes and Millipore share a vision for providing biopharmaceutical manufacturers with a broad range animal-free supplements for industrial cell culture applications. The launch of animal-free transferrin for industrial scale production represents the first step toward that shared vision.”
CellPrime rTransferrin AF has the advantages associated with animal-free products, such as reduced risk of the resulting product being allergenic, but also has several other benefits, according to Novozymes and Millipore.
In particular the companies are highlighting the product’s superior iron uptake compared with current plasma-derived alternatives. This plays a role in optimising the cell-culture and improving batch quality and productivity.
Novozymes is manufacturing the product in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) in US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected facilities. Millipore has exclusive rights to sell the product.