Process for the Culturing of Cells

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the culturing of cells, preferably El-immortalized HER cells, more preferably PER.C6 cells in a reactor in suspension in a cell culture medium, wherein the cells produce a biological substance, preferably an antibody, wherein at least one cell culture medium component is fed to the cell culture and wherein the cell culture comprising the cells, the biological substance and cell culture medium is circulated over a separation system and wherein the separation system separates the biological substance from substances having a lower molecular weight than the biological substance and wherein the biological substance is retained in or fed back into the reactor. Preferably part of the substances of lower molecular weight is continuously removed from the cell culture.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A cell culture comprising
 (a) cell culture media;   (b) animal cells having a viable cell density of at least 50×10 6 suspended cells/mL of cell culture media; and   (c) a biological substance having a concentration of at least 5 g/L of cell culture media;   wherein the cell culture is within or directly obtained from a reactor.   
     
     
         16 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the cell culture is a cell culture removal stream from the reactor. 
     
     
         17 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the animal cells have a viable cell density of at least 80×10 6 suspended cells/mL of cell culture media. 
     
     
         18 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the animal cells have a viable cell density of at least 150×10 6  suspended cells/mL of cell culture media. 
     
     
         19 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the concentration of biological substance is at least 10 g/L. 
     
     
         20 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the animal cells are selected from the group consisting of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, myeloma cells, HER cells, mouse cells, and PER.C6 cells. 
     
     
         21 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the biological substance is a protein. 
     
     
         22 . The cell culture of  claim 21 , wherein the protein is a recombinant protein. 
     
     
         23 . The cell culture of  claim 15 , wherein the cell culture comprises at least two liters of cell culture media.