Insulin for cell culture

Growth factors naturally regulate cell division, survival, and function in the body. Their biosynthetic production has been instrumental in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, where they help optimize yields in biologic drug production. Among them, insulin stands out as a vital component in serum-free growth media for mammalian cells.

Novo Nordisk Pharmatech’s Recombinant Insulin is widely used by biopharmaceutical companies to support the production of monoclonal antibodies, virus vaccines, and gene therapy treatments. By binding to its receptor, insulin activates intracellular signaling pathways that drive cell growth, differentiation, and glucose uptake, ultimately enhancing cell culture expansion and protein yield.

For the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) In CHO cell lines, studies have shown that Recombinant Insulin can support an increase in protein yield reaching up to 1-7-fold increase.

When working with commercially available media, it is crucial to verify whether insulin is already included and adjust concentrations accordingly. Tailoring insulin levels to specific cell lines through optimization studies can significantly enhance bioprocess outcomes. Novo Nordisk Pharmatech offers expert guidance to help manufacturers determine the ideal insulin concentration for their production needs.