Generation of cell lines for monoclonal antibody production

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent the largest group of therapeutic proteins with 30 products approved in the USA and hundreds of therapies currently undergoing clinical trials. The complex nature of mAbs makes their development as therapeutic agents constrained by numerous criteria such as quality, safety, regulation, and quantity. Identification of a clonal cell line expressing high levels of mAb with adequate quality attributes and generated in compliance with regulatory standards is a necessary step prior to a program moving to large-scale production for clinical material. This chapter outlines the stable transfection technology that generates clonal cell lines for commercial manufacturing processes.