Sartorius has launched a new genetically engineered CHO host cell line designed to improve productivity and efficiency.

The company evaluated the cell line across several cell line development (CLD) campaigns, from DNA to lead clone, using multiple therapeutic protein formats. In five‑liter bioreactor studies, the engineered host showed up to a two‑fold increase in expression titers and up to a three‑fold increase in productivity compared with lead clones generated from the original wild‑type CHO host in fed‑batch processes.

According to Sartorius, the cell line achieved these productivity improvements while maintaining product quality. The reported performance was consistent across IgG1, IgG4, Fc‑fusion proteins, and bispecific molecules, indicating applicability to various biotherapeutic modalities.

In intensified bioprocessing, the engineered host supported increased titers and extended culture duration in continuous perfusion. For a selected monoclonal antibody‑expressing clone, Sartorius reported a two‑fold increase in titer per day, along with cell densities and viabilities above 80 percent for up to 28 days.

The company states that these productivity gains may support next‑generation biomanufacturing approaches, including those used in biosimilar production.

Sartorius also reports that more than 90 percent of evaluated clones maintained continuous protein expression and stable, low gene copy number for over 70 generations, which the company indicates may contribute to long‑term manufacturing consistency and regulatory confidence.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first engineered CHO host cell line to deliver performance at this exceptional level in the CLD market,” said Oscar Reif, Head of Corporate Research and CTO at Sartorius.

According to Sartorius, integrating the new host into a data‑driven workflow enhances the company’s CLD platform, enabling increased productivity and stability in timelines as short as nine weeks, with the aim of reducing development risks and improving manufacturing efficiency and cost per dose.

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Earlier this year, Sartorius expanded its bio-based product portfolio to support more sustainable biopharma manufacturing.