ASEF BioX Industry Reading Circle – Sartorius BIA Separations and Bio-ReCell: The Successful Paths of Slovenian Innovations to the World

In this season of the BioX reading group, we have already hosted two guests from the industry who presented two successful Slovenian companies – BIA Separations and Bio-ReCell.

The Success Story of Sartorius BIA Separations

At the first industry meeting of the 2024/2025 season within the BioX reading group, held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Dr. Urh Černigoj, Head of Research and Development at Sartorius BIA Separations, presented the company’s journey from its inception to the present day. He explained the principles of monolithic chromatography and the numerous advantages of using monolithic chromatography columns in the purification of larger biological molecules.

BIA Separations, headquartered in Ajdovščina, was founded in 1998. In November 2020, it became part of Sartorius. The company is a global leader in monolithic technology development and the only producer of industrial-scale monolithic chromatography columns, or “smart filters,” used for the production, purification, and analysis of large biological molecules. It also provides innovative technologies for manufacturing biologic drugs, which are used in vaccines and gene therapy development. The purification of large biological molecules—such as viruses, exosomes, messenger RNA, and plasmid DNA—poses a significant challenge to the biotechnology industry when using conventional chromatography techniques. Monolithic technology enables the efficient separation of active pharmaceutical ingredients from impurities, reducing production costs and ensuring the safety of biologic drugs.

Sartorius BIA Separations has all thirty leading global pharmaceutical companies in its portfolio. It was also involved in the development of gene therapy for treating infants with spinal muscular atrophy (the drug Zolgensma). This year, the company received the Gold National Innovation Award from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia for its innovation, the Alkalizator – an instrument that enables continuous bacterial cell lysis in the production of plasmid DNA (pDNA).

The company presentation concluded with a stimulating discussion, where ASEF fellows learned more about process applications and the main challenges in technology development.

The Success Story of Bio-ReCell

At the second BioX industry meeting, held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Mr. Ožbej Jakob Popelar from the Research and Development department introduced Bio-ReCell, his career path within the company, and the innovative products the company has developed so far. He explained how these products enable T-cell isolation, T-cell activation, and the purification of stromal vascular fraction or mesenchymal stem cells for autologous therapy purposes.

Ožbej Jakob Popelar started his journey at Bio-ReCell as a student and soon became involved in the development of technologies aimed at making cell and gene therapy more accessible. Founded in 2018, the company successfully overcame its first major milestone in 2023 by acquiring new facilities, where it now strives to enhance cell handling technologies without the use of magnets. In addition to its innovative in-house development, the company collaborates with numerous partners to ensure the highest-quality products for consumers and patients.

During the presentation, we learned about the challenges they faced in automating processes and the extensive optimization, problem-solving, and exploration of alternative solutions required to transition from manual to automated procedures. In addition to automation, other aspects of the final product had to be optimized—for example, ensuring that T-cells do not remain in the activation medium for too long, as this could negatively impact the final product. We also learned about the innovative solutions that differentiate Bio-ReCell from its competitors and why these advancements are particularly valuable and sought after. Unlike other providers, Bio-ReCell does not use magnetic particles in its technology, meaning the final product is free from activation or isolation media residues. As a result, the final product is purer and less immunogenic (safer) for patients.

Following the presentation, ASEF fellows engaged in an insightful discussion, gaining deeper insights into the functionality of innovative devices, the development process of these technologies, and the company’s promising future trajectory.