Several parameters can affect the costs for viral vector manufacturing, such as the choice of cell line (adherent versus suspension) and the process strategy (single-use versus multi-use solutions). Data suggest that the upstream costs can be lowered by up to 57% when opting for suspension culture versus adherent cultures. Single-use solutions eliminate the need for cleaning and cleaning validation and allow for higher flexibility and increased manufacturing capacity.
Cost reduction for pDNA manufacturing specifically, can be realized by efficient downstream processing and the incorporation of single-use solutions. Product recommendations to obtain a high yield during downstream processing are discussed in question 5.