Rentschler doubles capacity with new single-use bioreactor

German CMO Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH is adding a 2,000 L single-use bioreactor to its facility in Laupheim, Germany, which it expects to be fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

The new 2,000 L single-use bioreactor will supplement two existing 1,000 L single-use bioreactors already in operation and will double the company’s total single-use production capacity. The advantages of single-use equipment include a reduction in contamination risks, a faster product turnaround and a shortened setup time that can increase capacity utilization.   

We see an increasing need for production capacity in the mid-scale. The expansion will allow us to match the growing demands of our clients for all clinical phases. The addition of the 2,000 L single-use bioreactor will increase our flexibility to serve the market with either stainless steel or single-use technology as the client requires,” said Frank Ternes, Chief Business Officer at Rentschler. 

Rentschler claims to be one of the first CMOs to establish a fully disposable process concept, with which it now has three years experience. The facility features a flexible space concept comprising four independent, connectable, multi-purpose clean room suites.  

The increase in capacity comes as Rentschler recently won a contract to manufacture a monoclonal antibody candidate for Apeiron Biologics in Austria.