Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are super important in making modern medicines, especially monoclonal antibodies. These cells, first found in the 1950s, have changed how we make life-saving drugs. Let’s explore why CHO cells are so special in making medicines and how they’re shaping the future of healthcare.
Key Points
- CHO cells are the most used cells for making biopharmaceuticals
- They’re crucial for producing monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, and growth factors
- CHO cells are great because they’re productive, make human-like proteins, and are accepted by regulators
- The global biologics market is expected to reach $1,009.37 billion by 2030
What Are CHO Cells?
CHO cells come from Chinese hamster ovaries. They’re special because:
1. They grow fast and easily in labs
2. They don’t change much over time, which is good for making consistent medicines
3. They can add sugar molecules to proteins similar to how human cells do
These features make CHO cells perfect for making human-compatible proteins in large amounts. About 70% of all therapeutic proteins are now made using CHO cells. They can adapt to different growing conditions and stay stable for a long time, which is really important when making medicines.
CHO Cells in Monoclonal Antibody Production
Monoclonal antibodies are proteins our immune system uses to fight diseases. Scientists can now make these in labs using CHO cells. Here’s how:
- Scientists put genes for the antibody into CHO cells
- The CHO cells start making the antibody
- The cells are grown in big containers, producing lots of antibodies
- The antibodies are cleaned and turned into medicines
This process has led to treatments for many diseases, including cancer, arthritis, and even COVID-19. CHO cells are great at making complex proteins that are similar to what our bodies make, which is why they’re so important for new medicines.
Why CHO Cells Are the Best Choice
CHO cells are preferred for making monoclonal antibodies because:
1. They make a lot of antibodies – up to 10 grams per liter of culture. This helps meet the growing need for these medicines and keeps costs down.
2. They add sugar molecules to proteins like human cells do. This is important for making sure the medicines work well and are safe.
3. They’ve been used for a long time and have a good safety record. This makes it easier to get new drugs approved.
4. Scientists can easily change CHO cells to make different types of antibodies or to make them work better.
Challenges and New Ideas
While CHO cells are very useful, there are still some challenges:
1. Making medicines with CHO cells can be expensive
2. Sometimes the cells can change over time, which can affect the quality of the medicine
3. Scientists are always trying to make the process more efficient
Researchers are working on new ways to make CHO cells even better:
1. Using CRISPR gene editing to make precise changes to CHO cell DNA
2. Using artificial intelligence to predict which genetic changes might improve antibody production
3. Developing new methods to allow CHO cells to produce antibodies non-stop, instead of in batches
The Future of CHO Cells in Medicine
As we learn more about biology and technology improves, CHO cells will become even more important in making medicines. They’re already being used to develop new types of treatments, like:
1. Antibodies that can target two different disease-causing molecules at once
2. Antibodies that deliver powerful drugs directly to cancer cells
3. Gene therapies that could potentially cure genetic diseases
These new treatments could help with a wide range of diseases, from cancer to rare genetic disorders.
Conclusion
CHO cells have really changed how we make complex medicines, especially monoclonal antibodies. They’re great at producing protein-based drugs that are safe and effective. As technology gets better, CHO cells will likely become even more important in creating new, life-saving medicines.
If you want to learn more about CHO cells and how they’re used to make medicines, check out Cytion’s information on CHO cells. The future of medicine is being shaped by these amazing cells, and it’s really exciting to see what they might do next.
