Dow Obtains Patents for Production of Glycoproteins In Transgenic Plant Systems
San Diego, Oct. 1 - The Dow Chemical Company has acquired a global, exclusive assignment of patents involving significant technology in protein Glycosylation for enabling the production of "mammalian- like" glycans in plants. Many protein-based therapeutics require glycosyl groups for full functionality. To date, the dominant production method for preparing glycoproteins has involved mammalian cell cultures. The patents acquired by Dow were obtained from inventors Dr. Tatsuji Seki and Dr. Kazuhito Fujiyama, based on work completed while working at the University of Osaka.
A Critical Step for More Effective Biopharmaceuticals
According to Kurt Hoeprich, Director of Market Development for Dow Plant- Based Biopharmaceuticals, Dow views the glycosylation technology involved in these patents as a significant event in the field of biopharmaceutical production using a plant-based approach.
By enabling the production of mammalian-like glycan structures, the new technology can potentially equip the plant-based approach to help overcome the high capital costs and production capacity limitations of current manufacturing methods. Hoeprich adds that the technology could possibly overcome the problem of incomplete glycosylation that can occur with other expression systems.
"Meeting these challenges can result in lower production costs, increased half-life of the protein in the body, and increased clinical effectiveness," Hoeprich said. "Clearly, this is a critical step toward more effective and economical biopharmaceuticals."
Dow earlier formed research and licensing agreements with Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutics to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases, to develop and produce monoclonal antibodies in plant-based systems. Dow and Epicyte subsequently entered into an agreement with Centocor, Inc. to evaluate production of a therapeutic human monoclonal antibody in plants. According to Hoeprich, this latest technology acquisition is in keeping with Dow's stated strategy to assume a leadership position as a development and manufacturing resource for the pharmaceutical industry.
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