Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37242584›Full record

ArticlePharmaceutics2023

Accelerated Production of Biopharmaceuticals via Microwave-Assisted Freeze-Drying (MFD).

Nicole Härdter, Raimund Geidobler, Ingo Presser, Gerhard Winter

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmaceutics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Emerging Manufacturing Technologies in Freeze-Drying of Pharmaceuticals.Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nicole HärdterDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Raimund GeidoblerBoehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Pharmaceutical Development Biologicals, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany.
Ingo PresserBoehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Pharmaceutical Development Biologicals, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany.
Gerhard WinterDepartment of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany.

Funding

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co. KG
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recently, attention has been drawn to microwave-assisted freeze-drying (MFD), as it drastically reduces the typically long drying times of biopharmaceuticals in conventional freeze-drying (CFD). Nevertheless, previously described prototype machines lack important attributes such as in-chamber freezing and stoppering, not allowing for the performance of representative vial freeze-drying processes. In this study, we present a new technical MFD setup, designed with GMP processes in mind. It is based on a standard lyophilizer equipped with flat semiconductor microwave modules. The idea was to enable the retrofitting of standard freeze-dryers with a microwave option, which would reduce the hurdles of implementation. We aimed to collect process data with respect to the speed, settings, and controllability of the MFD processes. Moreover, we studied the performance of six monoclonal antibody (mAb) formulations in terms of quality after drying and stability after storage for 6 months. We found drying processes to be drastically shortened and well controllable and observed no signs of plasma discharge. The characterization of the lyophilizates revealed an elegant cake appearance and remarkably good stability in the mAb after MFD. Furthermore, overall storage stability was good, even when residual moisture was increased due to high concentrations of glass-forming excipients. A direct comparison of stability data following MFD and CFD demonstrated similar stability profiles. We conclude that the new machine design is highly advantageous, enabling the fast-drying of excipient-dominated, low-concentrated mAb formulations in compliance with modern manufacturing technology.

Indexed as

excipientsfreeze-dryinglyophilizationmicrowavemonoclonal antibodystability

Identifiers

PMID37242584
PMCPMC10223035

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.