Biolex uses plant to make Centocor proteins

Related tags Cell

Centocor forged a deal with Biolex in which the latter firm will
examine the feasibility of producing three therapeutic proteins
using a proprietary plant-based expression system

Centocor has entered into an agreement with fellow US company Biolex in which the latter firm will examine the feasibility of producing three proteins using its proprietary Lemna Expression System.

Lemna is a transformational plant-based protein expression system for the development of human therapeutic proteins. Under the terms of the collaboration, Biolex will express the three proteins in the Lemna system on behalf of Centocor, and may be called on to scale up and manufacture the proteins following the feasibility phase. The financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

The Lemna system makes use of a green aquatic plant which can be used to provide benefits associated with mammalian cell culture, such as clonal replication, fast growth, high protein content, secretion of the target protein into the media and a contained and controlled environment, with the sought-after characteristics of next generation systems (i.e. speed of scale-up, significantly reduced capital requirement and low operating costs).

Biolex also has collaborations in place with Germany's Bayer and Debiopharm of France.

Related topics Ingredients