Enhancing pDNA production for gene therapy: BioNTech

The global demand for plasmid DNA (pDNA) production is increasing rapidly, driven by advancements in gene therapy. As a crucial component in the synthesis of mRNA, AAV, and other therapeutic vectors, pDNA production requires innovative approaches to enhance yield and purity.


Customer experience highlight:

Ahmet Hilmi Tekin, Senior Operational Scientist at BioNTech Manufacturing Marburg, shares the struggles and successes of establishing a pDNA manufacturing platform. At BioNTech Marburg, a small-scale plasmid DNA manufacturing facility meets the needs of mRNA-based vaccinations for routine use and pandemic preparedness. The PATfix pDNA analysis platform has become a valuable tool in their process development and optimization efforts, enabling rapid insights into every step of their manufacturing process.

Feature demonstration:

The PATfix pDNA analytical platform represents a significant advance in pDNA analysis, offering a seamless solution for monitoring pDNA throughout the entire production process. Unlike other assays, PATfix provides precise measurement of individual pDNA isoform concentrations and tracks pDNA levels in lysate samples, ensuring accuracy at every stage of downstream processing. Additionally, the platform serves as an invaluable tool for optimizing plasmid lysis and controlling linearization reactions. 


• Learn about the latest trends and challenges in pDNA production and their impact on the biopharmaceutical industry
• Discover innovative analytical solutions that provide reliable in-process control for pDNA process development and production
• Hear from BioNTech Manufacturing Marburg about their experiences and successes using the PATfix platform
• Engage in an interactive Q&A session to get your questions answered and gain deeper insights into optimizing your pDNA processes

This webinar is part of the “Biopharmaceutical analytics unveiled: expert insights and customer success stories” virtual event. To view the other sessions, click on the links below:

Session 2 - Enhancing mRNA production with advanced analytics: WACKER Biotech

Session 3 - Advancing LNP characterization for drug delivery: NeoVac

Session 4 - Accelerating AAV process development: NCSU BTEC

Ahmet Hilmi Tekin

Senior Operational Scientist, PU Microbial Manufacturing at BioNTech Manufacturing Marburg

Ahmet Hilmi Tekin completed his B.Sc. in Microbiology at Philipps-University in Marburg, affiliated with the Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, in 2016.

He then attained his M.Sc. in Synthetic Microbiology in 2018 from the same university's SYNMIKRO Center for Synthetic Microbiology.

Post-graduation, Ahmet worked as a Research Assistant until 2020, after which he transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry as a Quality Assurance Specialist at Novartis, continuing in this role with BioNTech after a site takeover.

Since 2022, he has been an Operational Scientist at the MIAMI project, focusing on microbial manufacturing of plasmids, and was promoted to Senior Operational Scientist in 2023, with responsibilities in process development, optimization, and implementation of new processes and equipment.

Blaz Bakalar

Product Manager, PATfix® Platform at Sartorius BIA Separations

Blaz completed his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, with the program having a heavy focus on laboratory methods widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. He obtained his PhD at NTU Singapore, with a focus on nucleic acid biophysics. In 2020 he joined Sartorius BIA Separations as the PATfix product manager. The PATfix analytical platform combines hardware, software and BIA analytical know-how into a single platform package, making his previous experience a valuable contributor in steering the product towards success.