GE unveils new AxiChrom columns
The columns, which will initially be available across the 50 to 1,000mm diameter range, feature GE’s new Intelligent Packing system, which provides an automated preparation method that ensures optimal and reproducible compression.
As Karlberg commented, the technology can significantly reduce the level of operator expertise required. ”Studies indicate that packing conducted using our system has a 95 per cent success rate, which is much higher than for alternate approaches,” he added.
“Another feature of the AxiChrom range is their reduced maintenance time,” continued Karlberg, explaining that they can be serviced in a little over an hour, rather than the full day required by older chromatography apparatus.
He went on to say that this feature of the product has obvious cost advantages for drug producers and, over a year, the time saved “may allow them to produce an extra batch, potentially equating to millions of dollars in additional revenue.”
GE is making the AxiChrom range available worldwide, hoping to develop a customer base across the complete spectrum of pharmaceutical producers and contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs), from development to commercial scale.
Karlberg commented that although the line offers a wide range of column diameters, providing reproducible chromatography options for drugmakers scaling up production, GE has plans to develop a 2,000mm version for very large manufacturing runs.
He also argued that the variety of the AxiChrom range would be a benefit for drugmakers in terms of technology transfer, which looks set to remain an important consideration as big pharma continues to outsource manufacturing to CMOs worldwide.
Karlberg said that: “to date, GE has delivered several columns in both the 50 to 70mm and 600 to 800mm diameter ranges to industrial customers in Europe and the US,” but was unable to provide further details for reasons of client confidentiality.
Commenting on AxiChrom’s global launch Peter Ehrenheim, CEO of life sciences at the firm, said it would “[help] customers to increase productivity by reducing the time for start-up, packing and maintenance,” adding that “the new design concept helps our customers to decrease cycle times and variability in manufacturing processes.”
