Cultured mammalian cells, particularly Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely used in the biotechnology industry for production of a wide range of therapeutics, predominantly monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins. Recently, there has been increased interest in the production of therapeutic carbohydrates such as heparin and heparan sulfates and in control of protein glycosylation as we enter the world of biosimilars.

In this presentation, I will provide an overview of the history of biotherapeutic production and highlight a range of contributions to the field from my laboratory including studies of hyperosmotic stress, understanding manufacturability, and evaluating factors that control productivity using a range of ‘omics technologies in antibody producing CHO cell lines. I will further discuss metabolic engineering of CHO cells and murine mastocytoma cells to produce a bioengineered heparin.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Gain familiarity with the history of biomanufacturing and the role of mammalian cells in production of biotherapeutics.

2. Identify the challenges in producing a non-animal-derived (aka Bioengineered) heparin.

3. Recognize the role that biosimilars play in the current biotherapeutic landscape.