Lonza has expanded its human primary cell offerings with the launch of customizable cryopreserved Leukopaks. The frozen Leukopaks 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, the cryopreserved Leukopaks also allow immediate access to viable cells for greater convenience and workflow flexibility, according to the company. The cryopreserved Leukopaks come in a range of sizes, and multiple donor characteristics and testing options are available through a costing structure that allows customers to only pay for the customization that they need.
 
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 optimizing cell therapy process development before progressing to full clinical manufacture. Fresh Leukopaks can be hard to access and must be used rapidly to avoid cell degradation, limiting transportation options. Cryopreserved Leukopaks are designed to allow reliable global shipping while maintaining cell viability and functionality, and the ability to thaw cryopreserved Leukopaks when needed means researchers are better able to plan ahead for more cost-efficient therapy development.
 
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. 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. Customers will also have access to Lonza’s technical support services to facilitate optimized product usage.