Lonza cryopreserved Leukopaks

Lonza has expanded its human primary cell offerings with the launch of fully customisable, high-quality cryopreserved Leukopaks for biopharmaceutical researchers across the globe. The frozen Leukopaks will enable long-distance shipping of leukapheresis products without the concern of reduced cell viability encountered with fresh Leukopaks. Suitable for long-term storage in research labs, they enable immediate access to viable cells for convenience and workflow flexibility.

A Leukopak is an enriched leukapheresis-derived product containing high concentrations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells like T cells, B cells and monocytes. Such cells are a critical raw material in immunotherapy research and for optimising cell therapy process development before progressing to full clinical manufacture. However, fresh Leukopaks can be hard to access and must be used rapidly to avoid cell degradation. International transportation options are thus severely limited, and logistical delays or donor cancellations can have catastrophic impacts on research costs and quality.

Using a controlled-rate freezing process, cryopreserved Leukopaks have a longer shelf life than fresh Leukopaks, enabling stable, long-distance shipping and more convenient access to leukapheresis products. Global shipping is therefore enabled while maintaining cell viability and functionality, and the ability to thaw cryopreserved Leukopaks when needed means researchers are better able to plan ahead for therapy development — removing the risks associated with donor cancellations or changes to experimental schedules.

The cryopreserved Leukopaks are available in a range of sizes, including packs of 2.5, 5 and 9.5 billion cells, which can be subdivided into separate smaller bags for greater convenience. Specific donor characteristics like age, gender and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type are also available, with a wide range of recallable donors and several product testing options.