NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[hyperopia]

senti, the Flaskworks’ system performs a number of functions, including culturing the DC's, then washing, (2x with a phosphate buffer solution to halt differentiation and clean the cells) pulsing and maturation, (with the tumor lysate & maturation/activation cytokines) then a final wash. I believe that it also can be used for cryopreservation, but Northwest Bio won’t use it for that, since individual doses are filled and stored in cryovials. So I think the cells would be in the Flaskworks’ system for about 6-7 days.

By the way, the first step in the manufacturing process is to separate out the monocytes from the other cells in the leukapheresis material, which I believe now uses a (closed) counterflow centrifugation system. So it’s actually only the monocytes (not ALL the leukapheresis material) that are loaded into the cartridge in the Flaskworks’ system.