Guest Columns

41. 6 Key Steps For Cell Therapy Clinical Development Success 9/14/2021

    While the simplest option for a small or emerging biotech is to outsource protocol and clinical development to a consultant or CRO, a disengaged or absent sponsor is unlikely to have its objectives realized. Prior to engaging with a consultant or CRO, you can take these six steps that are likely to leave both parties engaged in the clinical development process.

42. Biotech Patenting: 4 Tips & Personal Experiences 9/13/2021

    When you file for patent protection for your discoveries, keep these 4 tips in mind. I also share some of my personal experiences with patenting from over the course of the last 28 years, from when I cofounded 180 Life Sciences through now.

43. EU MDR Postmarket Clinical Follow-Up Compliance: 3 Tips & 3 Pitfalls 9/13/2021

    The EU MDR regulation imposes new requirements for clinical evaluation for some Class III and implantable devices, narrowing equivalence routes and placing greater emphasis on postmarket clinical follow-up (PMCF). This article provides three best practices for compliance and then offers an overview of common issues observed in notified body submissions.

44. FDA's Final Rule On Intended Use For Drugs & Devices 9/10/2021

    On Sept. 1, 2021, the FDA’s final rule on intended use for drugs and devices became effective. The rule has a complicated history and has been the subject of controversy over the last 6 years. It provides clarity to manufacturers, but many remain dissatisfied with the evidentiary standard for determining intended use. Might legal challenges follow?

45. Harnessing Lab Deviations For Performance Transformation In Vaccine Manufacturing 9/8/2021

    Deviations in the pharmaceutical process generally lead to non-compliance and issues meeting demand, so they require careful tracking, monitoring, and remediation. The presence of deviations may seem inevitable, yet COVID has brought to light the question of how vaccine manufacturing sites can manufacture more vaccines, more efficiently. This article explains how.

46. How To Find & Manage Biotech Consultants Effectively 9/6/2021

    The roles being filled by biotech consultants have grown considerably, as companies are becoming more familiar with working with consultants and more people are interested in pursuing a consultant career. But how do we find good consultants, and how do we ensure that our consultants are as committed and engaged as our full-time employees? Here's how to accomplish that.

47. What’s The Role Of Interim Consultants In The Life Sciences & How Do We Use Them Effectively? 9/3/2021

    When life sciences companies need new talent, they typically have two options: bring in a consultant or hire a full-time employee. Usually, this decision is dictated by the permanence of the role, but sometimes, timelines complicate things. In this situation, an interim consultant can be the solution. But what is the interim consultant's role, really, and how do we use them effectively?

48. 3 Successful Strategies For Protecting Your New Biopharma’s IP 9/1/2021

    Intellectual property is the lifeblood of new biopharma entities. Patent protection is necessary to secure investment, to build a solid foundation with opportunity for future growth, and to establish viability within a highly competitive landscape. This article addresses key patent-related considerations for startups and small or early-stage players in the life sciences arena.

49. How To Advance Continuous Bioprocessing Using Continuous Countercurrent Tangential Chromatography 8/30/2021

    Continuous countercurrent tangential chromatography (CCTC) addresses the inherent limitations of column-based systems by conducting the chromatographic operations (binding, washing, elution, stripping, and regeneration) on a flowing slurry, with inline static mixers used to ensure good contacting between the resin slurry and the clarified cell culture fluid/required buffers.

50. Best Practices For Raw Material Supplier Change Notifications: New BioPhorum Guidance 8/27/2021

    Managing the large volume of supplier change notifications while safeguarding the continuity and compliance of a complex and tightly regulated supply chain is a resource-intensive task. To address the challenges, the BioPhorum Raw Material Variability Workstream has developed a guidance document designed to streamline the process without straying from essential and strict risk mitigation procedures.