Biotechnology is omnipresent

Biotechnology is ubiquitous in our daily lives, even though biotechnological products are not perceived in the same way as other technological innovations. Biotechnology can be found in everything from breakfast rolls to highly complex and specialized therapeutics in human medicine. Enzymes—used, for example, in baking processes—and active ingredients, such as antibodies for cancer immunotherapy, are developed by biotechnologists and produced industrially on a large scale using cell cultures.

What we at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences can only teach students in the “Molecular Biotechnology” and “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” programs on a small laboratory scale takes place on a completely different scale in industry. While in the lab we develop cells for the production of monoclonal antibodies through so-called upstream processing and culture them on a one-liter scale—only to obtain a few milligrams of product in downstream processing—in industry, these processes involve several cubic meters and kilograms in automated cleanroom processes.

Thirteen students from the NBb21 class and three staff members from the Biotechnology Division of the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences now had the unique opportunity to gain insight into the research, development, and production of biopharmaceuticals at one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Thanks to the efforts of a former student—who, after obtaining her degree, is now employed as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG and is completing her doctoral dissertation there—an excursion was organized to the company’s Vienna location. With more than 3,000 employees, this site serves as a global center for the family-owned German company Boehringer Ingelheim, focusing on cancer research and the development and manufacture of biopharmaceuticals.

State-of-the-art laboratories and impressive production systems

The visit began with a comprehensive tour of the state-of-the-art laboratories in the upstream, downstream, and analytical divisions of the Process Development Department, where work is carried out on the development and optimization of processes. Particularly impressive was the organization of the high-throughput laboratories, for example, with multi-fermentation systems that allow process parameters to be varied and tested in parallel. After lunch in the company student canteen, the Senior Manager for Technology and Innovation provided a comprehensive overview of the company’s history and its significant contributions to the development of biopharmaceutical active ingredients. In the afternoon, a tour of the “Large-Scale Cell Culture” production facility followed, which was the highlight of the day. During the 1.5-hour tour along the visitor walkway of the cleanroom facility across several floors, the students were able to observe the manufacturing and purification of biopharmaceuticals on an industrial scale up close through a glass facade. They were shown and given explanations of the modern fermentation systems—each with a usable volume of 15,000 liters—the process control systems, and the equipment used to purify the biopharmaceuticals.

During the tours and in a concluding feedback session with company representatives over coffee and cake, the students had the opportunity to speak directly with the on-site research staff and ask questions. Not only were technical aspects clarified and discussed, but career paths within biotechnology were also highlighted.

What’s Possible

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG and to everyone who took care of us, whether behind the scenes or during the tours, for the opportunity to take the plant tour and for the warm hospitality. This extremely rare glimpse taught us two things. First, we were pleased to see that the methods and processes of industrial biopharmaceutical production are comprehensively covered—both theoretically and practically—in the biotechnology classes / courses at Zittau. However, the scale, efficiency, and yield were truly astonishing. Second, the company’s employees, with their knowledge and great enthusiasm for their work, impressively demonstrated to us just how much is possible in modern biotechnology. We would like to extend a special thank you to our graduate Sophie for the considerable time and personal dedication she put into organizing and carrying out the field trip and the social evening at the “Schwarzer Rabe” in Vienna, followed by a city tour!