Considering “clonality”: A regulatory perspective on the importance of the clonal derivation of mammalian cell banks in biopharmaceutical development

There has been much recent focus on the regulatory emphasis and the relative importance surrounding clonal derivation of mammalian production cell lines used in the manufacture of recombinant DNA-derived biopharmaceuticals. This interest has led to an ongoing discussion between regulators and industry on how this topic is evaluated and the role it plays in the development of a new biopharmaceutical. Herein the authors describe that the clonal derivation of the production cell line is a factor with potential impact on product quality, and thus should not be considered separately from, but rather in the context of all elements comprising the control strategy necessary to support approval of a regulatory application. Considerations for how clonal derivation of cell banks and clonal variation thereof may be viewed during the lifecycle of a biopharmaceutical product is provided.