Transition to GMP

Raw and Ancillary Materials Selection Strategy

The success of cell therapy products, including CAR-T cell therapy, is significantly dependent upon the process and material-selection strategies set in the early stages of development. To facilitate the translation into clinical trials, an ancillary (i.e. raw) material selection strategy that considers the end goal is critical. Most long-term strategies emphasize the use of the highest grade of raw materials available as early as possible; however, this may not always be feasible. Accounting for material grade transitions can help balance both performance and costs when moving onto the next stage. Since these raw materials have a significant impact on both the quality and safety of the final products, it is also important to source them from companies that can provide them at a standard that adheres to both local and international regulations.

We understand the complexity of developing an appropriate raw material selection strategy. Regardless of where you are in your cell therapy development, you can rely on us to provide high-quality and cost-effective materials of the appropriate grade that fit your process.

Do I have to use GMP grade materials?

Why consider our GMP products?

Why consider our GMP products?

Why consider our GMP products?

GMP products are manufactured under a stringent quality management system that monitors the production process and quality control, while providing a comprehensive set of documentation. To support our customers with high-quality and guaranteed safe GMP products, we are fully committed to upholding the guidelines in GMP manufacturing. We extensively evaluate our products for use as ancillary materials in ex vivo manufacturing including comprehensive viral residue testing and animal in vivo safety experiments. Our strict adherence to GMP helps us bolster your IND application without disrupting your development process.

Identifying a balance between requirements, performance, and costs while seeking qualified, reliable, and consistent raw material manufacturers are all part of the material-selection strategy that is critical in developing a cell therapy product. Early-stage incorporation of higher-grade materials (i.e. GMP) early in the development process can simplify the transition into clinical stages. However, this does not mean GMP grade materials are the only option. ACROBiosystems offers a diverse number of raw material products in several grades that support cell therapy manufacturers throughout the entire development process. Our premium(Pre-GMP)-grade products offer similar bioactivity and performance at a fraction of the price, ideal for preclinical applications. When you are ready to transition into the clinical phase, our premium(Pre-GMP) grade products can be seamlessly transitioned into our GMP grade materials.

What is the difference between GMP and Premium(Pre-GMP) grades?

What is the difference between GMP and Premium(Pre-GMP) grades?


Premium(Pre-GMP) Grade GMP Grade
Application Research and Development; Preclinical research and transition into clinical phases. Designed to meet clinical phase requirements and bolster your IND application to various regulatory bodies. v
Quality System ISO 9001 and 13485 Quality Management System ISO 9001 and 13485 Quality Management System (R&D stage) including GMP Quality Management System (Production stage)
Production ISO certified Workshop GMP grade workshop certified by third-party audits
Transient, stable cell lines Stable cell lines (Comprehensive external inspections)
Mostly animal-origin free materials Animal-origin free materials
Pharmaceutical-grade materials Pharmaceutical-grade materials
Strict secondary sterilization filtration Strict secondary sterilization filtration
Laminar flow cleanroom with manual fill finish B+A grade cleanrooms with automated fill finish
No specific virus removal or inactivation process Specific virus removal / inactivation process (nanofiltration + low pH)
Quality Control Sterility / Mycoplasma testing Sterility / Mycoplasma testing
Endotoxin control and detection Endotoxin control and detection
Validated key production equipment and analytical instruments Strict verification, auditing, and tracking of all equipment and methods.
Process-related impurity testing (DNA, HCP, Residue) Process-related impurity testing (DNA, HCP, Residue)
No additional quality control tests Comprehensive virus residue testing, animal in vivo safety experiments
Documentation Minimum documentation and certifications Comprehensive regulatory support documentation
DMF files (Few products) DMF files (All products)

GMP Grade


GMP Grade
Application Designed to meet clinical phase requirements and bolster your IND application to various regulatory bodies. v
Quality System ISO 9001 and 13485 Quality Management System (R&D stage) including GMP Quality Management System (Production stage)
Production GMP grade workshop certified by third-party audits
Stable cell lines (Comprehensive external inspections)
Animal-origin free materials
Pharmaceutical-grade materials
Strict secondary sterilization filtration
B+A grade cleanrooms with automated fill finish
Specific virus removal / inactivation process (nanofiltration + low pH)
Quality Control Sterility / Mycoplasma testing
Endotoxin control and detection
Strict verification, auditing, and tracking of all equipment and methods.
Process-related impurity testing (DNA, HCP, Residue)
Comprehensive virus residue testing, animal in vivo safety experiments
Documentation Comprehensive regulatory support documentation
DMF files (All products)

Premium Grade


Premium Grade
Application Research and Development; Preclinical research and transition into clinical phases.
Quality System ISO 9001 and 13485 Quality Management System
Production ISO certified Workshop
Transient, stable cell lines
Mostly animal-origin free materials
Pharmaceutical-grade materials
Strict secondary sterilization filtration
Laminar flow cleanroom with manual fill finish
No specific virus removal or inactivation process
Quality Control Sterility / Mycoplasma testing
Endotoxin control and detection
Validated key production equipment and analytical instruments
Process-related impurity testing (DNA, HCP, Residue)
No additional quality control tests
Documentation Minimum documentation and certifications
DMF files (Few products)

Supporting Data

GMP-L15H13

Recombinant Human IL-15 Protein, premium grade (IL5-H4117) designed for preclinical stage use, has the same activity and performance with GMP-grade IL-15 (GMP-L15H13), which enables a seamless transition from preclinical devleopment to clinical phases.

GMP-L15H13

Recombinant Human IL-7 Protein, premium grade (IL7-H4219) designed for preclinical stage use, has the same activity and performance with GMP-grade IL-15 (GMP-L0724), which enables a seamless transition from preclinical devleopment to clinical phases.

More CAR-T Related Products

FAQ

Q

Why should I consider animal-free or GMP raw materials?

Animal-origin Free (AOF) materials fundamentally eliminate the risk of introducing adventitious agents, such as BSE/TSE or animal-derived pathogens, ensuring the highest safety profile for patients. Furthermore, GMP-grade reagents guarantee robust batch-to-batch consistency and comprehensive regulatory compliance, backed by complete documentation and FDA DMF filings.
Q

As we advance towards commercial manufacturing, our QA department requires stringent supplier qualification. Do you support comprehensive on-site audits and formal quality agreements for your GMP-grade raw materials?

Yes, ACROBiosystems operates under an Audit-Ready (ADR) framework. We actively encourage and welcome your QA representatives to conduct thorough on-site or virtual audits of our ISO-certified, GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, we routinely establish detailed Quality Agreements and Supply Agreements with our biopharma partners to guarantee long-term supply security and lock in batch consistency for your critical raw materials.
Q

What is the difference between research-grade, Premium (Pre-GMP) and GMP-grade proteins?

Research-grade proteins are primarily intended for discovery and laboratory research and generally provide limited manufacturing and regulatory documentation. Premium (Pre-GMP) proteins are designed for preclinical development and process optimization. ACROBiosystems manufactures these products under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality systems and positions them as a cost-effective bridge between research and clinical manufacturing. GMP-grade proteins add GMP production controls, expanded quality and safety testing, enhanced traceability, comprehensive regulatory documentation and tighter control of facilities, equipment, personnel and manufacturing records.
Q

What are the key considerations for labs transitioning to GMP?

When transitioning your process to GMP manufacturing, the primary considerations are supply chain security, regulatory compliance, and material consistency. You must evaluate whether your supplier operates under certified quality management systems (like ISO 13485) and can provide comprehensive documentation, such as Drug Master Files (DMF) and Certificates of Origin. It is also critical to assess their scale-up capacity to prevent future supply bottlenecks and confirm stringent lot-to-lot consistency through detailed stability data.
Q

What are the advantages of transitioning from RUO to GMP?

Upgrading from Research Use Only (RUO) to GMP-grade materials is essential for meeting stringent clinical and commercial regulatory standards. While RUO reagents are suitable for early discovery, they lack the extensive traceability, rigorous impurity testing, and validated manufacturing controls required for human therapeutics. Our GMP and Pre-GMP materials share identical clones and expression systems, adopting them early eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming equivalency studies during your clinical scale-up.
Q

If we initially develop our cell therapy using your Premium (Pre-GMP) grade proteins, what specific bridging studies are required when transitioning to your GMP-grade materials for clinical trials?

Because our Premium and GMP-grade proteins utilize the identical expression system, host cell clone, and core manufacturing processes, the need for extensive bridging studies is virtually eliminated. The primary difference lies in the upgraded GMP compliance, strict B+A cleanroom environment, and enhanced viral clearance steps. You can directly substitute the Premium grade with the GMP grade in your late-stage CMC development without facing activity or performance variations.
  • Transition to GMP
  • Do I have to use GMP grade materials?
  • What is the difference between GMP and Premium(Pre-GMP) grades?
  • Supporting Data
  • GMP Resources
  • More CAR-T Related Products
  • FAQ
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