| |
Cuban biotechnology platform is focussing on blockbuster
products
José A. Acosta, Ernesto L. Mola, Ricardo S.
Rodríguez, Boris E. Acevedo
Havana , 25 february 2005. Cuban scientists have obtained a new plantibody at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana , Cuba ( Biotechnol & Bioeng. 2005 Jan 20, 89 (2): 188-194). In 2003, they reported in Biochem. & Biophys. Res. Commun. 2003, 308 : 94 -100, the expression and scale-up of a plantibody used for downstream process in the production of the vaccine for Hepatitis B Heberbiovac® (Heber Biotec S. A., Havana ). The new plantibody is an aglycosilated version of TheraCIM® (CIMAB S. A., Havana ), a recombinant humanized antibody against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGF-R), now designated as Orphan Drug in Europe and North America .
In 2004, the CIGB's staff developed a transient gene-expression system and used it to characterize promoter strength, verifying suitability of bacterial gene modifications for expression in plant cells, and to express active antibody molecules ( Biotec hnol. Appl. Biochem. 2004, 39 (Pt 3): 355-361). These results increase the arsenal for the development of the CIGB's technology platform and the generation of useful molecules for medical applications. The vision of antibodies as tools for research, useful for the prevention, detection and treatment of disease has been revolutionized by a number of discoveries and technologies that have converged to produce a renaissance in antibody therapeutics ( Biotec hniques 2000, 29 (1): 128-132; 134-136; 138). Envisaging this new paradigm, Cuban biotechnologists have built a technology platform based on genetically engineered proteins and innovative expression systems for the production of therapeutic antibodies from transgenic plants.
A great deal of experience in plant transformation from several species has been accumulated at the CIGB as intellectual property and trade secret. Transgenic plants from potato, carrot, sweet potato, rice, sugarcane, tobacco, cabbage, maize, tomato and grasses have been obtained and characterized at the molecular and biochemical level at the CIGB. Experience on genetic manipulation for protein sorting to sub-cellular compartments is available. Research aiming at the expression of vaccine antigens and antibodies in plants is also a focus. Recombinant antibody procedures are well-known and routinely used in this institution. The use of plants as expression systems for recombinant proteins is currently receiving a lot of attention all over the world. Among other advantages, lower production costs, virtually unlimited scale-up potential, and lack of susceptibility to known human or animal diseases make plant systems a very attractive alternative for this purpose.
The CIGB is looking for strategic alliances in research and development from potential partners, to speed up the project "Biopharming, u se of plants as expression system for recombinant proteins ". This project has been included in the CIGB's negotiation Portfolio along with other 19 R &D projects and published in the web site http://gndp.cigb.edu.cu , for public access to the scientific community and companies.
For information: http://gndp.cigb.edu.cu or http://www.cigb.edu.cu
Contact: ernesto.lopez@cigb.edu.cu
Phone: (53-7) 2712397.
|
|
