Author Archives: William G. Whitford

Using Disposables in Cell-Culture–Based Vaccine Production

    A recent private grant of US$10 billion for human vaccine applications illustrates the revival of interest in vaccine science (1). The 2009 response by vaccine manufacturers to the H1N1 pandemic revealed the convergence of three technological developments. First is a revolution in technology: Vaccines are being developed for diverse and unprecedented applications through a number of entirely new approaches. Second is the recent adoption of cultured cell-based production for a growing number of vaccines, such as influenza. And…

Many Considerations in Selecting Bioproduction Culture Media

    Not long ago, the ability to support efficient large-scale culture of cells was the main factor in choice and development of production media. However, a number of new performance demands have been imposed on production media (as listed in the “Key Factors†box). These new criteria arise from such sources as the demand for increased efficiency in a number of production operations, goals invoked by new quality initiatives, and a more science-based approach to process development. Not only…