Biotherapeutics are transforming healthcare for over 350 million patients globally, tackling everything from cancer and diabetes to rare diseases.

Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells play a key role in the manufacturing of many of these life-changing products. However, they are not without their challenges.

In this episode of The Top Line, sponsored by Bio-Rad, Dipika Gurnani, Global Product Manager at Digital Biology Group, discusses the critical need to accurately quantify HEK293 DNA in biotherapeutics to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance.

Gurnani highlights the risks of residual DNA integrating into a patient's genome, potentially causing cancer or genetic abnormalities. She also addresses the limitations of traditional quantification methods like qPCR, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

We also look at some key innovations in the field, such as Bio-Rad’s Vericheck ddPCR HEK293 Residual DNA Quantification Kit that can minimize false positives by specifically targeting HEK293 DNA.

For deeper insights into these challenges and innovations, listen to the full episode.