Viral Clearance Studies
Investigations of the ability of a biopharmaceutical product’s manufacturing process to remove or inactivate viral agents can provide assurance of the virus safety of the product, as detailed in international guidelines. Such studies are essential prior to any clinical trials. ViruSure offers GLP as well as non-GLP viral clearance studies including consultancy on the best study design. We base the study design on the vast expertise of our scientists acquired over decades performing virus clearance studies.
We have performed the virus clearance studies across a wide range of biopharmaceutical products. Whether your product is early stage or in late-phase clinical trial, we ensure the best study design to meet regulatory requirements.
At the process level, the study design must also include orthogonal process steps. These are defined as process steps with different mechanisms of virus inactivation or removal.
Selection of the virus panel is a critical element of your viral clearance study and is dependent on the risk profile of the product. The selection should cover a range of viruses with different physicochemical properties, including those with high resistance to inactivation, and viruses which are potential contaminants.
What our Clients Say
Simon B. , Principal Scientist, Downstream Process DevelopmentWe have worked several years with ViruSure conducting Viral Clearance studies, where the team during planning contribute at a high scientific level. The execution of the study is well organized – sometimes like they are reading our minds.
Virus Selection for Clearance Studies
The viruses highlighted in blue below are almost universally selected for recombinant biopharmaceutical products. Other virus types will be selected for other modalities such as blood- and animal-derived products. The table is only a small selection of all available model viruses at ViruSure.
Target Viruses
|
Example Model Viruses
|
Genome
|
Size (nm)
|
Envelope?
|
Resistance
|
Retroviruses
|
Murine leukaemia virus
|
2X ssRNA
|
80-110
|
Yes
|
Low
|
Pestiviruses
|
Bovine viral diarrhoea virus
|
ssRNA
|
50-70
|
Yes
|
Low
|
Paramyxoviruses
|
Bovine parainfluenza virus 3
|
ssRNA
|
100-200+
|
Yes
|
Low
|
Herpesviruses
|
Pseudorabies virus
Bovine Herpesvirus |
dsRNA
|
120-200
|
Yes
|
Low-Med
|
Coronaviruses
|
Transmissible gastroenteritis virus
|
ssRNA
|
120-160
|
Yes
|
Low
|
Reoviruses
|
Reovirus type 3
|
dsRNA
|
60-80
|
No
|
Med-High
|
Polyomaviruses
|
Simian virus type 40
|
dsRNA
|
40-50
|
No
|
High
|
Parvoviruses
|
Mice minute virus
Porcine Parvovirus |
ssDNA
|
18-22
|
No
|
High
|
Please contact us for a tailored virus selection for your studies.