Biosimilar Characterization Laboratory Opens in Austria
The Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar Characterization has opened at the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria). Co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family, and Youth, as well as the County of Salzburg through the Christian Doppler Society, the laboratory was established to develop and transfer to practice novel and more efficient methods to characterize the active ingredients in protein-based medicines.
The Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar Characterization has opened at the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria). Co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family, and Youth, as well as the County of Salzburg through the Christian Doppler Society, the laboratory was established to develop and transfer to practice novel and more efficient methods to characterize the active ingredients in protein-based medicines. Scientists from the University of Salzburg, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, and Thermo Fisher Scientific are collaborating in these efforts.
Thermo Fisher Scientific will be providing knowledge in applying liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) technology and nano-UHPLC (ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography) systems and columns.
Professor Christian Huber, head of the Christian Doppler laboratory, commented: “The more physical, chemical, and biological data we can obtain for protein-based drugs, the more certain we can be that they will produce the desired effects and will not produce unexpected adverse effects. Here, we are joining expertise in protein production and characterization, structural biology, and synthetic chemistry at the University of Salzburg to develop innovative characterization tools to determine the efficacy and safety of protein-based medicines.”
Dr Alain Guiller, VP of global sales, life science mass spectrometry at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: “We are confident that we will make a significant technical contribution to the detailed analysis of biosimilars and their quality control. This is a rapidly-developing field, and this close cooperation with the University of Salzburg and Sandoz will increase our understanding and help us to serve the emerging needs of the pharmaceutical industry.”
Dr Andreas Premstaller, head of Sandoz’ Schaftenau production site, added: “For us, the collaboration constitutes an important means to gain access to very recent technologies for industrial application, in order to make our production safer and more efficient.”
For more information please visit: www.thermofisher.com
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