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Hydranautics' LFC3-LD makes its début
NEWS The 1 ml columns contain microscopic beads that are bound to special proteins. These proteins bind specifically to endotoxins, which makes it possible to remove them from protein solutions without incubation. Biopharmaceuticals are playing a major role in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, myocardial infarction, cancer and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). These biopharmaceuticals are purified from naturally occurring or genetically modified organisms, such as bacteria, cell cultures or even plants. Endotoxins — biologically active structural components of the outer cell membrane of many bacteria — are a threat to biomanufacturing processes. High purity products are needed in order to guarantee optimal efficacy of the bio-medication and a reduction of unwanted side-effects, which means that biopharmaceutical companies make a great effort to detect endotoxins and remove them from their products. Contact: Profos AG, Josef-Engert-Strasse 9, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. Tel: +49 941 942 620, www.profos.de
Filter improves biopharmaceutical productivity Massachusetts-based Millipore Corporation is offering the biopharmaceutical industry a filter system which it claims improves productivity. Called the Pod platform, the filter system has a modular format and is designed for normal flow clarification and pre-filtration applications. This patent-pending disposable technology improves process speed, safety and the economics of manufacturing biopharmaceuticals. The pre-filtration and clarification step in the manufacturing process is important to the overall effectiveness and efficiency of therapeutic drug production, says Millipore. Without changing hardware, customers can run their Pod system in serial or parallel configurations to meet specific
process and batch size requirements from 20 to 12 000 liters. The small footprint saves valuable floor space, and the lightweight design eliminates the need for hoists or high ceilings. In addition, the holder is on casters for easy assembly and movement. Pods are now available that use the company’s Millistak+ HC media for primary and secondary clarification processes. Millistak+ HC filters incorporate multiple graded density layers of adsorptive positively charged depth media. The successively tighter multimedia layers reduce particle loads when cell-culture fluids flow through the filter, says Millipore. The more retentive Millistak+ HC media grades incorporate an additional layer of microporous cellulose membrane to protect downstream equipment and membrane filters. Contact: Millipore Corporation, 290 Concord Road, Billerica, MA 01821, USA. Tel: +1 978 715 4321, www.millipore.com
The LFC3-LD is added to Hydranautics’ low-fouling composite element product line, which includes the neutrally charged hydrophilic LFC1 unit, claimed to be ideal for municipal wastewater applications, and the neutrally charged LFC3, which is used when high rejection is required. The 37 m2 (400 ft2) LFC3-LD membrane element is available in an 20 cm (8 inch) diameter and 101 cm (40 inch) long configuration. It can be used as a stand-alone product, or as part of what the company refers to as its ‘Integrated Membrane Solution’. Hydranautics was founded in 1963, and during 1987 became part of the multi-billion-dollar Nitto Denko Corporation, which is based in Osaka, Japan. Contact: Hydranautics, 401 Jones Road, Oceanside, CA 92054, USA. Tel: +1 760 901 2500, www.hydranautics.com
Higher membrane use expected in Hydranautics’ biopharmaceutical LFC3-LD makes its industry début A report published by US-based Hydranautics, a US manufacturer of reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and microfiltration membrane products for water treatment, has introduced a low-fouling composite membrane element. Called the LFC3-LD, the low differential pressure element provides a neutral surface charge that reduces fouling, which can occur during the treatment of wastewater and surface water. Designed for water reuse and reclamation, its design includes a thicker brine spacer that lowers the differential pressure. The LFC3-LD is rated at 41.6 m3 (11 000 gallons) per day of flow, at 99.7% nominal salt rejection. According to the company, this membrane is especially suitable for the treatment of difficult feed water for numerous municipal and industrial applications, which until now have required significant pretreatment upstream of any composite reverse osmosis membrane.
Business Communications Co Inc (BCC) estimates that in 2004 the market for membrane technology used in biopharmaceutical discovery, development and commercial production was worth $740 million, and is expected to rise at an average annual growth rate of 10.7% to reach $1.23 billion by 2009. According to the report, entitled Membrane Technology for Biopharmaceuticals: Discovery, Development and Commercial Production, membrane and membrane system sales to the life sciences industry can be tied to increases in life sciences research and development spending; to the growing number of biotechnology drugs in the product ‘pipeline’; and to rapidly increasing sales of approved biopharmaceuticals. It says that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies’ R&D spending is at an all-time high, and as in the 1990s boom, companies involved in the life sciences are seen
IN BRIEF Whatman appoints new Chief Executive Whatman Plc, a UK company that supplies separations technology to the life sciences industry, has appointed Timothy Haines as its new Chief Executive. The appointment becomes effective from 1 September. Haines has a broad range of international management experience in the life sciences industry. For the past five years he has been Chief Executive of Astex Technology, a UK-based drug discovery and development company. Astex collaborates with many of the major global pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Aventis. Alfa Laval wins desalination contract in Pakistan Centrifugal separation, fluid handling and heat transfer equipment company Alfa Laval has received a contract from DHA Cogen Ltd in Pakistan for a desalination facility. The deal includes two multipleeffect desalination units, with a total capacity of about 14 million liters per day. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2006. The project is the first major desalination project in Pakistan dedicated to the supply of drinking water. The facility aims to meet the need for additional fresh water sources in order to further expand and develop housing areas in Karachi. Pure Bioscience completes sale of water treatment division In the US, Pure Bioscience has completed the sale of its water treatment division to Innovative Medical Services LLC. At closing of the deal the company received $1.95 million in cash. It will also receive two post-closing payments — one for $225 000 within 90 days, and the remaining $200 000 within 13 months. Pure Bioscience says that it will use the proceeds of the sale to retire substantially all debt, and to capitalize the continuing commercialization of its current and future bioscience products, including those for its most recent licensee, Ciba Specialty Chemicals.
3 Membrane Technology July 2005
Filter improves biopharmaceutical productivity Massachusetts-based Millipore Corporation is offering the biopharmaceutical industry a filter system which it claims improves productivity. Called the Pod platform, the filter system has a modular format and is designed for normal flow clarification and pre-filtration applications. This patent-pending disposable technology improves process speed, safety and the economics of manufacturing biopharmaceuticals. The pre-filtration and clarification step in the manufacturing process is important to the overall effectiveness and efficiency of therapeutic drug production, says Millipore. Without changing hardware, customers can run their Pod system in serial or parallel configurations to meet specific
process and batch size requirements from 20 to 12 000 liters. The small footprint saves valuable floor space, and the lightweight design eliminates the need for hoists or high ceilings. In addition, the holder is on casters for easy assembly and movement. Pods are now available that use the company’s Millistak+ HC media for primary and secondary clarification processes. Millistak+ HC filters incorporate multiple graded density layers of adsorptive positively charged depth media. The successively tighter multimedia layers reduce particle loads when cell-culture fluids flow through the filter, says Millipore. The more retentive Millistak+ HC media grades incorporate an additional layer of microporous cellulose membrane to protect downstream equipment and membrane filters. Contact: Millipore Corporation, 290 Concord Road, Billerica, MA 01821, USA. Tel: +1 978 715 4321, www.millipore.com
The LFC3-LD is added to Hydranautics’ low-fouling composite element product line, which includes the neutrally charged hydrophilic LFC1 unit, claimed to be ideal for municipal wastewater applications, and the neutrally charged LFC3, which is used when high rejection is required. The 37 m2 (400 ft2) LFC3-LD membrane element is available in an 20 cm (8 inch) diameter and 101 cm (40 inch) long configuration. It can be used as a stand-alone product, or as part of what the company refers to as its ‘Integrated Membrane Solution’. Hydranautics was founded in 1963, and during 1987 became part of the multi-billion-dollar Nitto Denko Corporation, which is based in Osaka, Japan. Contact: Hydranautics, 401 Jones Road, Oceanside, CA 92054, USA. Tel: +1 760 901 2500, www.hydranautics.com
Higher membrane use expected in Hydranautics’ biopharmaceutical LFC3-LD makes its industry début A report published by US-based Hydranautics, a US manufacturer of reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and microfiltration membrane products for water treatment, has introduced a low-fouling composite membrane element. Called the LFC3-LD, the low differential pressure element provides a neutral surface charge that reduces fouling, which can occur during the treatment of wastewater and surface water. Designed for water reuse and reclamation, its design includes a thicker brine spacer that lowers the differential pressure. The LFC3-LD is rated at 41.6 m3 (11 000 gallons) per day of flow, at 99.7% nominal salt rejection. According to the company, this membrane is especially suitable for the treatment of difficult feed water for numerous municipal and industrial applications, which until now have required significant pretreatment upstream of any composite reverse osmosis membrane.
Business Communications Co Inc (BCC) estimates that in 2004 the market for membrane technology used in biopharmaceutical discovery, development and commercial production was worth $740 million, and is expected to rise at an average annual growth rate of 10.7% to reach $1.23 billion by 2009. According to the report, entitled Membrane Technology for Biopharmaceuticals: Discovery, Development and Commercial Production, membrane and membrane system sales to the life sciences industry can be tied to increases in life sciences research and development spending; to the growing number of biotechnology drugs in the product ‘pipeline’; and to rapidly increasing sales of approved biopharmaceuticals. It says that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies’ R&D spending is at an all-time high, and as in the 1990s boom, companies involved in the life sciences are seen
IN BRIEF Whatman appoints new Chief Executive Whatman Plc, a UK company that supplies separations technology to the life sciences industry, has appointed Timothy Haines as its new Chief Executive. The appointment becomes effective from 1 September. Haines has a broad range of international management experience in the life sciences industry. For the past five years he has been Chief Executive of Astex Technology, a UK-based drug discovery and development company. Astex collaborates with many of the major global pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Aventis. Alfa Laval wins desalination contract in Pakistan Centrifugal separation, fluid handling and heat transfer equipment company Alfa Laval has received a contract from DHA Cogen Ltd in Pakistan for a desalination facility. The deal includes two multipleeffect desalination units, with a total capacity of about 14 million liters per day. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2006. The project is the first major desalination project in Pakistan dedicated to the supply of drinking water. The facility aims to meet the need for additional fresh water sources in order to further expand and develop housing areas in Karachi. Pure Bioscience completes sale of water treatment division In the US, Pure Bioscience has completed the sale of its water treatment division to Innovative Medical Services LLC. At closing of the deal the company received $1.95 million in cash. It will also receive two post-closing payments — one for $225 000 within 90 days, and the remaining $200 000 within 13 months. Pure Bioscience says that it will use the proceeds of the sale to retire substantially all debt, and to capitalize the continuing commercialization of its current and future bioscience products, including those for its most recent licensee, Ciba Specialty Chemicals.
3 Membrane Technology July 2005