EMD Millipore Launches Eshmuno® A Chromatography Media and Chromabolt™ Prepacked Columns

EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today introduced two additions to the Company’s comprehensive chromatography portfolio to further accelerate downstream purification and improve process efficiency.

Eshmuno® A is a rigid, high capacity, acid and alkaline resistant Protein A affinity chromatography media for the purification of monoclonal antibodies and other Fc-containing proteins. Higher binding capacities offered by Eshmuno® A media in comparison with other commercially available Protein A media delivers increased productivity and lower costs.

Eshmuno® A media can be cleaned and sanitized under acid and/or alkaline conditions while maintaining high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates with no significant change in product purity. In addition, the media offers an orthogonal solution for aggregate removal at both the front and tail ends of the elution peak from the Protein A column. This property of the Eshmuno® A media is advantageous in reducing the burden of subsequent chromatography steps typically used in the purification of Fc–containing proteins.

“Optimizing the particle size and pore size of the Eshmuno® base matrix along with the immobilization of our proprietary ligand enables a significant increase in dynamic binding capacity,” states David Beattie, Ph.D., head Biopharm Process Solutions R&D, EMD Millipore. “This allows for higher loading of the Fc-containing protein being purified, maximizing column throughput and improving process economics. The ability to increase capacity and throughput with the Eshmuno® A media also allows our customers to more effectively process the high titers coming from upstream processing.”

Chromabolt™ prepacked, pre-validated chromatography columns, available with a range of EMD Millipore chromatography resins, are designed for early clinical stage manufacturing. Pre-validation indicates the columns meet bioburden, endotoxin, HETP and asymmetry pecification for the resin. Offered in 3 sizes – 10, 20 and 32 cm i.d. – Chromabolt™ prepacked columns eliminate laborious packing and equipment cleaning. The columns are currently available packed with Fractogel® SO3, Fractogel® TMAE HiCap, and Eshmuno® S resins. Going forward, additional resins will be made available in the Chromabolt™ format.

The prepacked columns are compatible with all currently available chromatography systems and connectors, have easily accessible inlets and outlets, and offer faster set-up times compared to traditional columns. Ergonomic and easily transportable by a single person, the 20 cm and 32 cm sizes are on wheels.

“Downstream processes must become faster, more lean, and cost-effective,” notes Vin Donovan, head of Biopharm Process Solutions business field, EMD Millipore. “With Chromabolt™ prepacked columns, we help customers accelerate pilot and early stage clinical scale manufacturing and lower their costs by eliminating manual packing and equipment cleaning.”