Pharmaceutical NEWS - Fall 2009

Lancaster Labs hosts Asahi Planova Training Seminar

As a service to clients involved in the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals, Lancaster Laboratories recently hosted a training seminar on the use of Planova filters for virus removal. Representatives from Asahi Kasei Medical presented a full-day seminar on their virus filtration systems at Lancaster Laboratories. The 22 attendees learned the theory behind size exclusion filtration of viruses and factors to consider in filter selection. The attendees also participated in a hands-on laboratory exercise using the filters. Planova filters have been in use for nearly 20 years and were the first virus removal filters in the industry.

A tour of Lancaster Laboratories’ new Biopharmaceutical laboratories was included on the day’s agenda. The seminar topic complements Lancaster Laboratories’ viral clearance services, which support the viral safety assessment of biopharmaceutical products. Lancaster Labs’ role in the process is to evaluate the effectiveness of purification processes, such as filtration with products like Planova filters, by spiking model viruses into the process intermediates. The spiked samples are processed through a scaled-down purification system and then analyzed to demonstrate that the viruses are removed.

For more information on the seminar or viral clearance services, contact Dr. Kate Bergmann, manager, Viral Safety and Viral Clearance, at 717-656-2300.