Continuous bioprocessing has the potential to improve drug quality and increase patient access and safety. As the next generation of innovator drugs and biosimilars move into early clinical testing, the need for speed to clinic is clear. More and more drugs are receiving fast track approvals, shortening the time between the clinical phases. In continuous manufacturing, there is no need to scaling up a process and therefore no scale up risk—the process runs longer to produce more product.
This speed of production could also help address drug shortages and yes, pandemics and ease supply bottlenecks with more drug produced per unit time. Other benefits include manufacturing “drugs on demand” in compact, cost effective facilities around the world and promote multiple locations closer to patient need, which may be especially relevant in instances of new pandemics or emergencies.