Jennifer Markarian is manufacturing reporter for Pharmaceutical Technology.

Jennifer Markarian

The use of isolators for aseptic manufacturing has increased, driven by the effectiveness of the equipment for product safety and by the increasing number of products that must be processed aseptically (1). Isolators operate as closed systems and can be designed with attached gloves for manual intervention or as “gloveless” for fully automated systems. The draft revision to the European Union’s Annex 1 good manufacturing practices (GMP) for manufacturing sterile medicinal products (2) provides direction for designing and cleaning isolators (1). Evaluating the design of the isolator system in relation to the contamination control strategy is crucial, explained Richard Denk, a senior consultant for Aseptic Processing and Containment at SKAN(1).

Automation inside isolators further reduces human intervention. Comecer, an ATS company, displayed a containment isolator integrated with the company’s new automated SuperTrak Pharma platform for asynchronous conveyance at INTERPHEX 2021. The automated system offers flexibility with individually controlled shuttles, which increases throughput while while using a less complex and smaller footprint than traditional automation systems.

Although isolators have been commonly used in larger-scale or automated aseptic fill/finish, the technology is pushing into smaller-volume areas. Robotic automation is beneficial for small batches because it allows flexibility and more rapid changeover (3). Syntegon introduced the modular, small-batch Versynta FFP [Flexible Filling Platform] in 2021. It uses a four-axis robot inside the isolator to handle containers for filling aseptic or highly potent liquid products and can fill up to 3600 containers per hour (4). The isolator’s air flow is optimized so first air is supplied to the containers without obstruction.

Syntegon’s Versynta microBatch is an automated production cell in a gloveless isolator for smaller batches in the range of 120–500 containers per hour. This system, which is being developed in partnership with Vetter, is planned to be launched in 2022 (3).

Innovative isolator equipment is being developed and used in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing, as more companies get involved in the emerging area of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). While these small-volume processes started out primarily as manual processes in biosafety cabinets, new equipment offers the option of closed and automated processing. Biosafety cabinets have lower initial capital costs, but they present higher risk of microbial or cross-contamination and must be used in a Grade B cleanroom. Isolators, however, are closed systems that reduce contamination risk. Another advantage of using an isolator are that they can be used in a Grade C or D cleanroom, which requires less capital expenditure and lower energy use. The lower cleanroom levels require less personal protective equipment (PPE), which is more comfortable for operators as well as saving in costs and environmental impact of PPE disposal, explains Matt Pridden, standard product development manager at Extract Technology. Inquiries into isolator technology for ATMPs have been increasing, says Pridden, primarily because of the higher level of safety and the need to meet the requirements of Annex 1. Use of a Grade A isolator is known by regulators and the industry as the lowest level of risk to sterility, he adds.

Cellectis, for example, is a gene-editing company that recently opened a facility where it is performing clinical-stage manufacturing of allogeneic, universal chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (UCART) immunotherapies. In each the facility’s two manufacturing suites, a custom designed, four-chamber isolator encloses all parts of the UCART manufacturing process. Glove ports allow operators to perform manual process steps in the isolator. A separate isolator is used in the filling suite for automated fill/finish of the vials. Steve Doares, Cellectis’ senior vice-president of US manufacturing and the site head of the new Raleigh, NC manufacturing site, explained that the isolators were chosen instead of biosafety cabinets to maximize product quality assurance and maintain aseptic conditions throughout (5).

SKAN’s new Cellana isolator is designed for GMP manufacturing of ATMPs. A modular design allows different components to be integrated as needed for the specific process, and it can be integrated with semi-automatic or automated filling systems. The Cellana isolator uses technology already established in SKAN’s other isolators, such as the SKANfog decontamination technology and a catalytic convertor that completely decomposes hydrogen peroxide before the air is exhausted. The isolator uses a Grade A unidirectional airflow with high efficiency particulate arrestance filtration in both the air supply and the air return ducts, which allows it to handle viral vector and potent compounds (6).

In July 2021, powder-containment equipment specialist Dec Group acquired Extract Technology, which manufactures aseptic and containment work environments including CGT isolators (7). The company’s Modular Cell Therapy Isolator can be configured from chambers for transfer, centrifuge, and processing that form a Grade A environment, which is decontaminated using vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide. Patent-pending dockable incubators can be connected and disconnected as needed to allow multiple cell cultures to be processed. Another key aspect is the ability to integrate equipment specific to a client process, says Pridden. Extract Technology’s isolators have been used for several years to produce allogeneic stem cell transplant therapies. The systems can also be used for autologous cell therapies. The closed system allows open manipulation within a Grade A environment.

Comecer offers several isolators specifically designed for CGT. For example, a standalone isolator workstation is designed for applications that require cell manipulation and incubation under GMP conditions. The company makes a docking incubator system that can be connected to its CGT isolators using the Comecer Flexy interface. Modular components allow more flexibility to adapt and scale any manufacturing process. In June 2021, Comecer partnered with G-CON to provide its CGT closed aseptic systems (isolators and fillers) prequalified and installed inside G-CON’s prefabricated POD cleanrooms. (8).

ILC Dover extended its single-use, flexible containment isolator technology to aseptic isolators with the introduction of the soloPURE flexible aseptic isolator (9). The isolator’s closed, Grade-A aseptic environment can be used for aseptic processes and fill/finish tasks, including small-scale vial filling. The equipment has a small footprint, and the chamber has glove ports on both sides. The flexible chamber is gamma irradiated for use one time before disposal, or it can optionally be sterilized-in-place with vaporized hydrogen peroxide. The disposable chamber eliminates the need for cleaning and validation, which allows rapid changes from one product to another.

EC, Draft Revision to “Annex 1, Manufacture of Sterile Medicinal Products,” (Brussels, 2020).

Syntegon, “Versynta FFP,” Press Release, March 10, 2021.

J. Markarian, “Cellectis Opens GMP Manufacturing Facility,” 

SKAN, “Cellana Cell & Gene Therapy Isolators: Interview with Our Cell & Gene Task Force (3),” 

Dec Group, “Dec Group Announces Acquisition of Extract Technology,” Press Release, July 1, 2021.

Comecer, “Comecer Partners with G-CON to Speed Up the Implementation of Your Cell and Gene Therapy CGMP Manufacturing Facility,” Press Release, June 3, 2021.

ILC Dover, “ILC Dover Defines the Future of Sterile Manufacturing with the soloPURE Flexible Aseptic Isolator,” Press Release, April 13, 2021.

Jennifer Markarian is the manufacturing editor for 


Volume 45, Number 12
December 2021
Page: 34, 37

When referring to this article, please cite it as J. Markarian, “Trends in Isolator Equipment,” 

Articles

Isolators move into smaller-volume processes, including cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

Trends in Isolator Equipment

INTERPHEX was back at the Javits Center in NYC in October 2021, and new technologies for facilities and manufacturing were on display, as discussed in the following sections.

Suppliers of containment systems are seeing increased demand as the use of highly potent ingredients has increased and more companies need to handle materials in higher occupational exposure bands.

Flow Sciences Inc., for example, introduced three new isolators in 2021. The Drysolator is a glovebox designed for powder handling under negative pressure; it protects the operator and controls the relative humidity and oxygen levels to protect substances that are sensitive to moisture and oxygen. The Nitrogenema II glovebox uses a flow of inert gas to nearly eliminate moisture and oxygen, and it can be used for weighing hygroscopic or pyrophoric compounds. The company’s Analytical Process Isolator, designed to protect operators, has an ISO5 interior section with glove ports, as well as a separate open face section that can be used for easier access, such as for cleaning equipment or tools.

ILC Dover displayed its single-use, flexible containment isolators for powder handling. In 2021, the company extended this disposable technology to aseptic isolators with the introduction of the soloPURE flexible aseptic isolator.

Several companies displayed aseptic isolators at INTERPHEX, which will be discussed in an article on 

 in December. New isolators for cell and gene therapy product manufacturing were featured. One of these, SKAN’s Cellana Series isolator system, was awarded “Best in Show” by the INTERPHEX Exhibitor Awards.

The demand for both development and commercial manufacturing of biologic drug products is growing, and single-use systems (SUS) that allow a fully disposable flow path have been established as efficient manufacturing equipment components. Multiple companies displayed SUS at INTERPHEX.

Although the supply-chain challenges of 2020 and 2021 caused some components of SUS to be in short supply, SUS manufacturers that are vertically integrated commented that they were able to make their own tubing and bags. The “pinch point” was sourcing the more complex components and the regulatory restrictions that make it more difficult to change components in processes that are already qualified. Standardization vs. customization continues to be debated. Although users like to have custom designs, more standard SUS could help alleviate supply problems. Sterilization capacity was another issue that suppliers are looking to address with the use of alternate sterilization types and materials that can withstand various sterilization forms.

 hosted industry experts remotely on the Innovation Stage on the show floor at INTERPHEX. Check out the videos here:

Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing

Advances in Molecule Characterization and Biomanufacturing for Emerging Therapies

Serialization on a Global Scale: Deep Dive into the US DSCSA & EU FMD

Trends and technologies in pharmaceutical manufacturing were highlighted on the show floor and in the conference sessions on the INTERPHEX Innovation Stage.

Equipment Innovations for Pharma Manufacturing

Equipment and advanced manufacturing approaches to meet the evolving needs for solid-dosage drugs include continuous manufacturing, containment strategies, Industry 4.0 tools, and techniques for optimizing solid dosage form manufacturing. “Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing” was part of a keynote series at INTERPHEX 2021 on Oct. 19, 2021.

The session was moderated by Jennifer Markarian, manufacturing editor, 

Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology Europe,

 In this video, Jennifer interviewed Gernot Warnke, Head of R&D, JRS Pharma, who spoke about excipients and how these relate to feeding in batch and continuous manufacturing of oral solid dosage (OSD) drugs.

This video is part 5 of 5. The other speakers in this session were:

Part 1: Dave DiProspero, Director Pharmaceutical Process Technology, CRB

Part 2: Johannes Khinast, PhD, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) at the Graz University of Technology in Austria

Part 3: Fernando Muzzio, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University

Sharon Nowak, Business Development Manager, Coperion K-Tron USA Food & Pharmaceutical Industries

Watch other videos in this keynote series:

Gernot Warnke, Head of R&D, JRS Pharma, spoke about excipients and how these relate to feeding in batch and continuous manufacturing. 

Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing: INTERPHEX Keynote Part 5

 In this video, Jennifer interviewed Sharon Nowak, Business Development Manager, Coperion K-Tron USA Food & Pharmaceutical Industries. Sharon shared challenges and best practices in feeding materials for manufacturing oral solid dosage (OSD) drugs.

This video is part 4 of 5. The other speakers in this session were:

Part 1: Dave DiProspero, Director Pharmaceutical Process Technology, CRB.

Part 2: Constantin Schmidt, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) at the Graz University of Technology in Austria

Part 5: Gernot Warnke, Head of R&D, JRS Pharma.

Sharon Nowak, Business Development Manager, Coperion K-Tron USA Food & Pharmaceutical Industries spoke about feeding equipment in solid-dosage drug manufacturing.

Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing: INTERPHEX Keynote Part 4

Equipment and advanced manufacturing approaches to meet the evolving needs for solid-dosage drugs include continuous manufacturing, containment strategies, Industry 4.0 tools, and techniques for optimizing oral solid dosage (OSD) form manufacturing. “Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing” was part of a keynote series at INTERPHEX 2021 on Oct. 19, 2021.

Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology Europe

. In this video, Jennifer interviewed Fernando Muzzio, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University about trends in continuous manufacturing of OSD drugs.

This video is part 3 of 5. The other speakers in this session were:

Part 2: Johannes Khinast, PhD, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) at the Graz University of Technology in Austria.

Fernando Muzzio, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers University, spoke about trends in continuous manufacturing of OSD drugs.

Equipment Trends in Advanced Solid-Dosage Drug Manufacturing: INTERPHEX Keynote Part 3

 In this video, Jennifer interviewed Johannes Khinast, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) at the Graz University of Technology in Austria. Johannes spoke about continuous manufacturing. 

This video is part 2 of 5. The other speakers in this session were:

Johannes Khinast, PhD, Institute for Process and Particle Engineering in the Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering (RCPE) at the Graz University of Technology in Austria, spoke about continuous manufacturing of OSD drugs.