Applications of machine learning in antibody discovery, process development, manufacturing and formulation: Current trends, challenges, and opportunities

While machine learning (ML) has made significant contributions to the biopharmaceutical field, its applications are still in the early stages in terms of providing direct support for quality-by-design based development and manufacturing of biologics, hindering the enormous potential for bioprocesses automation from their development to manufacturing. However, the adoption of ML-based models instead of conventional multivariate data analysis methods is significantly increasing due to the accumulation of large-scale production data. This trend is primarily driven by the real-time monitoring of process variables and quality attributes of biopharmaceutical products through the implementation of advanced process analytical technologies. Given the complexity and multidimensionality of a bioproduct design, bioprocess development, and product manufacturing data, ML-based approaches are increasingly being employed to achieve accurate, flexible, and high-performing predictive models to address the problems of analytics, monitoring, and control within the biopharma field. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current applications of ML solutions in the design, monitoring, control, and optimisation of upstream, downstream, and product formulation processes of monoclonal antibodies. Finally, this paper thoroughly discusses the main challenges related to the bioprocesses themselves, process data, and the use of machine learning models in monoclonal antibody process development and manufacturing. Moreover, it offers further insights into the adoption of innovative machine learning methods and novel trends in the development of new digital biopharma solutions.