CSL Behring and Cicada to fund innovation challenge

Biotech News: As the world’s biggest plasma producer, CSL Behring is looking for innovative new ideas and ways to help meet the growing global demand for plasma-derived Human Immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG is an antibody that contributes to the body’s immune response.

CSL Behring and Cicada Innovations’ new Plasma Protein Purification Challenge seeks to tackle some of the biggest challenges in plasma protein production, and to save and improve lives.

According to the company, there is a global shortage of plasma-derived IgG, leaving many patients unable to access essential treatments. The demand for life-saving IgG therapies continues to grow rapidly in parallel to our global population, making its production a matter of life or death for many.

Douglas Lee, Senior Vice President Global Plasma Product Development of CSL Behring, said “I’m excited about the opportunity to work with many people at one time and to come up with new ideas in this crowdsourced ideation process. It’s an opportunity to glean and harvest those ideas that and get the voices of people that we might not necessarily hear from.”

CSL Behring’s Laura Keigher, Senior Manager Breakthrough Launchpad, commented “We are extending our innovation beyond CSL and opening this challenge to the broader community so that we can increase the number of novel approaches and perspectives that are put before us and open the door to innovators from around the world who might otherwise not have direct access to present their ideas and concepts.”

Two cash prizes are available, with first place being awarded AUD$40,000 and the runner up being awarded $15,000; both winners will receive mentorship from CSL Behring and Cicada Innovations and a direct pathway to one of the world’s leading global biotech companies.

The global challenge is open to entrepreneurs, researchers, engineers and academics. The ambitious and innovative ideas sought will be assessed by a panel of judges on:

• Innovation: impact and uniqueness of solution
• Technical feasibility: conceptually and technically sound
• Commercial feasibility: scalable and cost-efficient
• Team: credibility and capabilities

Applications close 25 May 2021. Apply here.