Increase the cell densities of your CHO processes and improve your product yield using our novel DECOY-7 miRNA technology. We used advanced profiling technologies to identify microRNA 7 (miR-7) as a key contributor to improved CHO bioreactor performance following a temperature shift from 37°C to 31°C. Subsequent functional studies using mimics and inhibitors confirmed the potential of miR-7 as a genetic engineering target within CHO cells, whereby depletion has a beneficial effect on some of the traits desirable in production CHO cells, particularly increasing cell density during the early growth phase and viability during later culture and doubling product yield of a model secreted glycoprotein. These features together have the potential to increase per-run profitability, decrease time required to deliver requisite titres and decrease downstream purification time. Cells grow to a higher density and last longer in culture, resulting in increased per-run titres, increased per-run profitability and decreased time required to deliver product titres. Cell viability is improved, resulting in less contaminating protein from dead cells, facilitating downstream purification.

1. N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e F o r C e l l u l a r B i o t e c h n o l o g y
Increasing Biopharma production
efficiency using DECOY-7
N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r C e l l u l a r B i o t e c h n o l o g y ,
D u b l i n C i t y U n i v e r s i t y , D u b l i n , I r e l a n d
e m m a . o n e i l l @ i n v e n t . d c u . i e

2. Biopharma Challenges
• High Cost of Biologics Production
• Greater Demands on Cell Line Development
• Higher Titres
• Higher Cell Densities
• Greater pressure on pipelines (turnaround, etc.)
Greater Efficiency

3. Improving processes
using miRNAs
microRNAs:
• Post-transcriptional regulators
• Many targets
• Known to influence many processes
in cell
• Not translated

4. miRNA-7 as a Process Target
• microRNA-7 (miR-7)
• Active following temperature shift (37°C-31°C)
• miR-7-depletion tool: DECOY-7
• Functional studies demonstrate miR-7 depletion has a beneficial effect on
CHO bioreactor performance:
• increased cell density
• increased viability
• US8,476,244) EP 2046970 B1
Gammell et al. 2007. Initial identification of low temperature and culture stage induction of miRNA expression in suspension CHO-K1 cells.
Journal of Biotechnology, 130, 3, pp213-218
Barron et al. 2011. Engineering CHO cell growth and recombinant protein productivity by overexpression of miR-7. J.Biotechnology
151(2):204-11
Sanchez et al. 2013. MiR-7 triggers cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition by targeting multiple genes including Skp2 and Psme3. PLOS One.
8(6):e65671
increased product yield

5. DECOY-7: Cell Density
Ctrl K1
DECOY-7 K1

6. DECOY-7: Viability
Ctrl K1
DECOY-7 K1

7. DECOY-7: Cell Productivity
Ctrl K1
DECOY-7 K1

8. What DECOY-7 means for you
• These features together have the potential to:
• increase per-run profitability,
• decrease time required to deliver requisite titres,
• facilitate downstream purification

9. How we can work with you
Collaborate to find a comprehensive solution to your upstream cell line
development challenges;
- Transient transfection of your existing processes (as a media additive)
- Licence/technology transfer to implement DECOY-7 under your in-house
control
- Collaborative research on your specific cell lines at the NICB

10. Scientific Team
Biopharma & CHO Cell Engineering Group
Multidisciplinary research centre, with over 25 years experience in integrated
research in fundamental and applied cellular biotechnology, molecular cell
biology and biological chemistry
The mission of the NICB is to provide targeted and applied solutions to
challenges facing the Biopharma industry, utilising our unique multi-disciplinary
team, our extensive clinical & industry network and our collaborative problem-
solving expertise to deliver value for stakeholders, collaborators and patients.

11. N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e F o r C e l l u l a r B i o t e c h n o l o g y
Contact details
N i a l l B a r r o n , D i r e c t o r, N I C B
e : n i a l l . b a r r o n @ d c u . i e / t : + 3 5 3 1 7 0 0 5 8 0 4
P a d r a i g D o o l a n , S e n i o r R e s e a r c h F e l l o w, N I C B
e : p a d r a i g . d o o l a n @ d c u . i e / t : + 3 5 3 1 7 0 0 5 7 9 6
E m m a O ’ N e i l l , D i r e c t o r o f B u s i n e s s D e v e l o p m e n t , L i f e S c i e n c e s D C U
e : e m m a . o n e i l l @ i n v e n t . d c u . i e / t : + 3 5 3 1 7 0 0 7 7 4 1