FBS and Therapeutic Safety: Minimizing Immune Risks

Immunogenicity—the risk of triggering immune responses—is a critical concern when using Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) in therapeutic cell cultures. Even trace bovine proteins can cause patient rejection, limiting FBS use in drug production. By 2026, innovations reducing FBS immunogenicity are making it safer for applications like monoclonal antibody manufacturing and vaccine development.

Lower Host Cell Protein (HCP) Levels for Reduced Rejection

New purification methods target HCPs, a major immunogenicity source. A 2023 trial reduced HCP levels from 200 µg/mL to 50 µg/mL, matching serum-free media standards. This drop minimizes immune recognition, with labs reporting 40% fewer rejection cases in FBS-derived antibody trials compared to older serum. By 2026, HCP-reduced FBS variants will be standard for therapeutic production, labeled by HCP content to guide selection.

Antibody Depletion for Safer Immunotherapy Cultures

FBS naturally contains bovine immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM), which can bind to human cells. 2026 FBS uses affinity columns to remove over 90% of these antibodies, as shown in a 2023 study where depleted FBS supported T-cell cultures with 50% fewer activation issues. This advancement is pivotal for immunotherapy, where preserving T-cell functionality without interference is essential for efficacy.

People Also Ask

• What is immunogenicity in FBS? The risk of bovine proteins triggering immune reactions in patients using FBS-derived therapies.
• How do HCP reduction methods improve safety? Lower HCP levels reduce immune recognition, cutting therapy rejection risks.
• Why are antibody depletion techniques important? They prevent bovine antibodies from disrupting human immune cells in cultures.

To learn about safer therapeutic applications, explore details on immunogenicity reduction.