Pharmaceutical Technology Editors

Sartorius is investing approximately €270 million (US$305 million) through the end of 2024 to expand its activities in South Korea, the company announced on Nov. 25, 2021. Using the investment funds, the company plans to launch cell culture media production in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea’s biopharma hub, in addition to assembling sterile systems for efficient and flexible biopharmaceutical manufacturing, among other operations.

Construction of new facilities at the 25,000-m2 (270,000-ft2) site will include an application center with laboratories as well as several buildings for manufacturing and logistics. Construction is slated to begin in the coming year with production operations scheduled to start by the end of 2024. The expansion will create approximately 750 new jobs. Sartorius’ existing activities for service as well as for marketing and sales will be relocated to the new site.

“The development of the biopharmaceutical industry in Asia and, in particular, South Korea, has entered a new phase characterized by a high innovation and investment pace on the part of our customers. With our significant investments in Songdo, we will be increasing capacities, moving production operations closer to our customers in the region and substantially accelerating our delivery speed,” said Joachim Kreuzburg, executive board chairman and CEO, Sartorius, in a company press release.

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Sartorius will invest approximately €270 million (US$305 million) to expand its biopharmaceutical manufacturing activities in South Korea’s biopharm hub.

Sartorius Launches Expansion in South Korea with Mullti-Million Dollar Investment

The GEA kytero single-use separator, intended for use in fermentation solutions and cell cultures, is equipped with GEA Westfalia Separator disk stack technology designed for maximum yield, high separation efficiency, and gentle product handling.

The GEA kytero combines the high performance of larger GEA stainless-steel pharmaceutical centrifuges with the benefits offered by disposable components that do not require cleaning. The technology relies on centrifugal separation, rather than filter-based harvesting, for increased clarification efficiency.

To prevent cross-contamination and hygienic cell harvesting, all elements that come into contact with the product, such as hoses and containers, are made of recyclable material and are replaced after use. The design of the aseptic connector system is intended to ease the process of exchanging single-use components. The mobile plug & produce unit also fits into any cleanroom.



The GEA kytero combines the high performance of larger GEA stainless-steel pharmaceutical centrifuges with the benefits offered by disposable components.

Single-Use Separator

The Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector

The Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector is designed to
allow biopharmaceutical laboratories to easily implement multi-attribute methods and perform intact analysis of monoclonal antibodies, oligonucleotide mass determination, and peptide mapping. Relative to prior models, it features reduced
downtime and maintenance, superior data quality, and seamless method transfers.

The new system enables quality control customers to use the same method established earlier in a molecule’s journey to commercialization. This measure simplifies the transition of biotherapeutics from development to manufacturing
and accelerates the biopharmaceutical pipeline.

Relative to prior models, the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector provides reduced downtime and maintenance, superior data quality, and seamless method transfers.

Versatile Mass Detector

ROSS VersaMix Multi-Shaft Mixers with Solids/Liquid Injection Manifold (SLIM) Technology enable fast and efficient large-scale powder dispersion into low-viscosity liquids including resins, oils, melted waxes, emulsions, and aqueous solutions.

The pictured VersaMix Model VM-600 is a 600-gal capacity dual-shaft mixer designed for deep vacuum levels. Featuring a High Shear Mixer with SLIM Technology, the rotor stator assembly of the VM-600 creates a powerful suction that draws solids sub-surface, directly into the high-shear zone. This method of material addition accelerates powder wet-out and dramatically minimizes issues like agglomeration (fisheyes), floating powders, and dusting.

The second agitator is a Two-Wing Anchor equipped with hinged Teflon scrapers for consistent heat transfer across the vessel sidewalls and bottom, which could be jacketed for temperature control. After the powder induction step, the VM-600 can handle a significant increase in viscosity because the combined mixing action of Anchor and High Shear Mixer ensures adequate turnover.

ROSS VersaMix Multi-Shaft Mixers provide fast and efficient large-scale powder dispersion.

Multi-Shaft Mixers

The Anritsu 10-Lane 100% Capsule Checkweigher KWS9002AP10 is capable of providing comprehensive weigh-check inspection for up to 75,000 capsules per hour. The unit features a newly developed capsule handling mechanism for reliable feeding and rejection functionality.

The Anritsu checkweigher has a weight measurement accuracy of +/- 0.5 mg. The module offers user/domain authentication (user management), and it conforms to international industry standards and regulations. It can measure a variety of capsules, including filled and empty capsules.

Anritsu's 10-Lane Capsule Checkweigher can inspect up to 75,000 capsules per hour.

Ten-Lane Capsule Checkweigher

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced the development of novel nanosensors for the detection of nucleocapsid and spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a Nov. 10, 2021 press release. The Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe) sensors were born out of a collaboration between MIT and InnoTech Precision Medicine, an early-stage diagnostics company. and developed within a short timeframe of 10 days.

According to research findings published in 

 in October 2021 (1), researchers used single-walled carbon nanotubes and polymers to develop the CoPhMoRe sensors. These sensors aim to provide a platform for quick development of fast and accurate diagnostic, monitoring, and surveillance tests for detection of current and emergent pathogens.

“New technologies using innovative material and strategies are key for quick and efficient diagnosis and disease control.” said Roya Khosravi-Far, CEO and co-founder of InnoTech, in the press release. “Conventional diagnostics are expensive, specialized, and slow to develop; we need to modernize our diagnostic tests to drive robust public health response to existing and emerging threats.”

Researchers from MIT have developed novel nanosensors for the detection of the nucleocapsid and spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.