Modern LIMS for pharma

A laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is a digital software solution for laboratory management of data, reagents, test results, workflows and teams. The purpose of a LIMS is to increase lab operational efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness and assist in delivering high-quality results.

LIMS software is a central productivity hub to manage lab data, workflows, and teams. It’s used to increase lab operational efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness. A LIMS should possess the capabilities of an electronic lab notebook (ELN), facilitate sample and inventory management, be able to integrate with lab instrumentation, and establish compliance and quality assurance standards.

The key benefits of a pharmaceutical LIMS include effective collection of data or samples, defined organization of information (lab management, sample management, workflows management, resource management), and improved sharing of results across teams.

A LIMS helps to record, store, and preserve critical information and precious intellectual property (IP). With an effective LIMS system, you can generate dashboards and reports that highlight cost of ownership, assist in knowledge transfer across teams, and monitor the status of research, development, and manufacturing pipeline programs.

Remember that not all LIMS systems offer the same functionality. Selecting pharmaLIMS software is similar to choosing any other software solution for a research lab: you must consider your lab’s specific needs. Find a LIMS that’s intuitive and easy for your team to use. If it’s challenging to navigate, record entries, or share information, teams will be resistant to adopting it.

Also consider a LIMS that offers customization to address your needs today and in the future. Particularly in pharmaceutical labs, consider the workflow processes and hand-offs your team requires and if the LIMS you select will improve efficiency throughout the organization, not just for one team. For example, early research phase teams will want a laboratory management system that is more flexible and able to record many different sample types. Whereas teams in early and late-stage development will be focused on achieving and maintaining compliance to regulations such as NIST cybersecurity framework, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and SOC 2, and GxP validated environments that require more rigor and the need to follow defined SOPs with traceable audit trails.

Benchling is an example of a cloud-based, secure platform that offers code-free configuration. It’s also supported by an experienced implementation and support team to provide guidance for scientists over the entire R&D lifecycle.

Most LIMS will offer an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) feature or module. The key difference between a LIMS and an ELN is that a LIMS is used with structured, repeated workflows, processes, and data. An ELN is often associated with changing, flexible workflows and recording data. An ELN is often a component of a LIMS platform. Given the increasing complexity of modern science, consider a LIMS that has ELN capabilities to enable scientists to be better connected and more productive.

Benchling is a unified R&D cloud that contains Notebook (ELN), Molecular Biology, Registry, Inventory, Workflows, Lab Automation, and Studies modules — so you can get everything your lab needs in one platform.

LIMS software was created to help promote collaboration and productivity among scientists and across an organization. The biggest advantage to cloud-based LIMS software over on-premise or in-house LIMS software solutions is the superior storage and secure back-up of information. Also, cloud-based solutions afford access to information anywhere, provided an internet link is available. On top of this, with cloud-based solutions, updates and bug fixes can be pushed out immediately to address issues and get users back online working faster.

Benchling’s Notebook is a secure cloud-based software that is more than a traditional ELN, as it is part of a LIMS productivity hub that comprises multiple connected applications that help streamline sample and data recording, accelerate analysis of results, and connect teams across an organization. You can also work with our solution consultants to create validation processes to address regulatory requirements.

Any biotech or pharmaceutical lab seeking to bridge the gaps within an organization and more efficiently manage their data will benefit from LIMS software. Some critical challenges these labs have faced using legacy LIMS have been inefficient knowledge transfer processes, poor context for scientific decision support and a lack of shared information traceability.

Consider Benchling which is a cloud-based platform that supports your entire R&D process from early research to late-stage development by delivering a wide range of functionalities, flexible integration and configuration. Benchling provides a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate user interface that is compatible and can be tailored to specific R&D workflows.

Often LIMS software will have electronic lab notebook recording capabilities or other workflow and project management features. Adaptability of a LIMS software is another important feature to consider given the fast-pace and evolving nature of science programs. The software should evolve and scale with your research and the teams. For example, companies with a more mature pipeline of products may require a LIMS that addresses regulatory requirements and can define a chain of custody to follow for samples and data.

While organizations on a positive growth trajectory may be looking to establish processes and templates to share data, create SOPs and reduce human-error due to repetitive manual tasks. Consider a cloud-based LIMS software to maximize on better accessibility, storage, and security over on-premise and in-house solutions. This may also be useful if you are making submissions with the FDA as the preference is for electronic versions over paper-based.

When evaluating a LIMS for your biotech or pharmaceutical laboratory, make sure it can easily integrate with your lab instrumentation. One of the advantages of a LIMS system is the ability to manage automated instruments and even automate data collection, which accelerates workflows, reduces errors from manual data enry, and frees up time. Also, a LIMS can support creating labels or barcodes, inventory management, and reducing paper-based recording tasks.