US-based hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services specialist, Ecolab Life Sciences, has officially opened its state-of-the-art bioprocessing applications laboratory in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, US. The laboratory is equipped with high-throughput process development tools and manufacturing-scale chromatography columns.

The new facility is designed to provide enhanced technical support and process development services for the purification of biotherapeutic molecules, supporting biopharmaceutical manufacturers and contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) across the full development cycle.

This enables biotech firms and large biopharma companies to access turnkey support for bioprocessing applications, including characterisation of alternative resins to help reduce manufacturing costs and assist with regulatory submissions.

VP of Research and Development at Ecolab Life Sciences, Dr. Jennifer Sorrells said, “Our new Bioprocessing Applications Lab marks a significant milestone in our ability to be a global technical partner to our customers around the world. This facility demonstrates our commitment to delivering best-in-class bioprocessing solutions by pairing Ecolab’s innovative resin toolbox with deep domain expertise to optimise the purification process. We are dedicated to empowering our customers to accelerate the delivery of life-saving therapies to market."

The laboratory has already begun supporting biopharma and CDMO clients by delivering lifecycle studies aimed at improving manufacturing efficiencies and accelerating speed to market. 

Capable of initiating studies and providing results within weeks, the facility offers customers full transparency and collaborative access to raw data and bench-level operations.

This latest addition complements Ecolab’s existing European Applications and Research & Development Laboratory in Wales, UK, and forms part of the company’s broader Pharma Centre of Excellence. 

The multi-million-dollar investment also includes The Xchange, an interactive customer experience centre, and an API and excipient manufacturing facility.