The Downstream Column (DsC) is an online publication targeting members of the biologics industry. Our intent is to provide a community to share expertise and best practices as well as discuss topics of interest. The Downstream Column covers areas important to the research, discovery, development, and manufacture of biologic therapeutics. Key industry coverage areas include: purification, formulation, fill/finish, and QA/QC for cell and gene therapies, vaccines, biologics, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
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The Downstream Column (DsC) is an online publication targeting members of the biologics industry. Our intent is to provide a community to share expertise and best practices as well as discuss topics of interest. The Downstream Column covers areas important to the research, discovery, development, and manufacture of biologic therapeutics. Key industry coverage areas include: purification, formulation, fill/finish, and QA/QC for cell and gene therapies, vaccines, biologics, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
Addressing the increasing demand for single-use technologies and supply chain shortages with future proof systems
The Downstream Column Podcast
16 minutes 8 seconds
3 years ago
Addressing the increasing demand for single-use technologies and supply chain shortages with future proof systems
In this podcast, we talked with Phil Sanders, Biotech Chief Innovation Officer, Agilitech, about the increase in demand for single-use equipment and consumables and how this has led to supply chain shortages. We also talk about how to address these issues by incorporating strategies like being brand agnostic and designing systems that are future proof.
Show Notes:
Supply chain challenges
We began the podcast by talking about the challenges that the industry is facing with respect to single-use systems and increasing demand. Mr. Sanders described how supply issues have become a real problem not only with the single-use assemblies but also with instrument components and sensors.
He went on to explain that end users are facing long delivery times from several of the larger equipment vendors, up to fourteen months for certain consumables. Often vendors can deliver equipment within a couple of months, but without the consumables, it isn’t usable. End users are also experiencing slow response times for service request quotes for single-use systems that is impacting many of the smaller companies due to required supplier support for COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic production.
Furthermore, many equipment vendors have single source supply chains because of their proprietary solutions, this also impacts the ability to increase supply quickly, as does facility and workforce constraints.
Impact of COVID-19 related manufacturing on single-use supplies
Next, we discussed in more detail how COVID-19 related therapeutic manufacturing has impacted the supply chain and single-use technologies specifically. Phil said that from the customers' perspective, it's hurt their perception of single-use as a solution. With some customers debating whether it's really the right technology to pursue if their deliveries don't allow for faster times to market. This has led some end users to reconsider reusable technology, such as stainless steel.
I followed up by asking which companies are most at risk of experiencing supply chain shortages and delays. Phil shared that in his experience, it is the smaller companies and CDMOs that are not tied to project Warp Speed.
Addressing supply chain challenges in the near and long term
I asked how he thought that supply challenges can be addressed in the near and long term. Phil explained that from his perspective as a vendor, the near-term solution is to be able to provide equipment designs that are less proprietary and more open or agnostic so that multiple vendors can be leveraged to provide a solution, thus permitting quicker deliveries. His recommendation to customers is not to get locked into a proprietary solution that creates a single source of supply, especially for consumables.
Being brand agnostic as a solution
Then we discussed the term brand agnostic and I asked Phil to explain what that term means and the benefits. He said that to him, brand agnostic means Agilitech looks at multiple vendors to provide best-in-class components for specific applications. Not being tied to a specific component or vendor allows Agilitech to create solutions that are best in class and truly fit it for those customers’ unique processes. It also enables shorter delivery times for equipment and consumables.
Truly fit for purpose solutions
Next, I asked Phil to clarify what fit for purpose means to Agilitech as it can have different definitions. He stated that Agilitech understands that every customer's application is different in some form, so they work with the customer upfront to understand issues and concerns as well as the short-term and long-term vision. After they have a clear understanding, then they take their standard product design and modify it to meet a customer’s exact needs. This eliminates any work on the back end to integrate the equipment into their existing process. Thereby,
The Downstream Column Podcast
The Downstream Column (DsC) is an online publication targeting members of the biologics industry. Our intent is to provide a community to share expertise and best practices as well as discuss topics of interest. The Downstream Column covers areas important to the research, discovery, development, and manufacture of biologic therapeutics. Key industry coverage areas include: purification, formulation, fill/finish, and QA/QC for cell and gene therapies, vaccines, biologics, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
