Turn Roche experience in real-time PCR to your advantage

Demonstrating the absence of mycoplasma at specified points in manufacturing is a regulatory safety requirement for most vaccines and  cell-derived therapeutics because of the risk of bacterial infection to patients. 

Traditional microbiological techniques have many disadvantages known to the industry. These techniques are labor-intensive, take 28 days, require growing live mycoplasma, and are difficult to interpret, making them especially unsuited for cell and gene therapies.  Regulatory agencies accept nucleic acid amplification tests (PCR) as an alternative method for mycoplasma detection after proper validation.

Based on more than a decade of mycoplasma testing innovation,  CustomBiotech addresses the limitations of traditional testing methods with the MycoTOOL PCR-based mycoplasma testing systems. Our MycoTOOL methods are employed by numerous therapeutics manufacturers, including Roche Pharmaceuticals/ Genentech, for the release of select clinical and commercial biologics.
 

Here is a quick summary of the Roche CustomBiotech MycoTOOL innovation story:

2004

The MycoTOOL PCR mycoplasma detection kit based on endpoint PCR was developed as a joint effort between Roche Pharmaceuticals and Genentech. Both were looking for a rapid, PCR-based method to replace the time-consuming cell culture test for mycoplasma. 

2008

This first MycoTOOL endpoint PCR kit was made commercially available.

2010

The method validation for the MycoTOOL endpoint PCR kit was published

2012

A critical milestone was achieved when Roche Pharmaceuticals gained regulator's acceptance with the MycoTOOL endpoint PCR kit as a release test for one of their biopharmaceutical products. At the same time, Roche CustomBiotech launched the MycoTOOL Real-Time PCR kit, which is now used by Roche Pharmaceuticals for in-process testing and for release of newer biopharmaceuticals.

2015

Roche created a  validation report for the MycoTOOL Mycoplasma Real-Time PCR kit to support manufacturers in their own product-specific validations.

2018

Roche Pharmaceuticals gained FDA acceptance using the MycoTOOL Mycoplasma Real-Time PCR kit as a release test for one of their commercial biopharmaceutical products. The fact that these kits are also used internally by Roche Pharmaceuticals demonstrates our confidence in the product performance.

MycoTOOL Mycoplasma Real-Time PCR Kit

The MycoTOOL Mycoplasma Real-Time PCR kit is compatible with most real-time PCR instruments and is an ideal QC mycoplasma test because it delivers robust, specific and sensitive and delivers testing results in less than 5 hours. It can be used as a single test system at various in-process points and for lot release, so that the same sensitivity criteria are used throughout your manufacturing process. As an early warning system, results minimize the impact of possible contaminations, and the kit can replace traditional culture methods for release testing, providing results in hours rather than weeks.