ProMetic purification tech gets selected

The collaboration between ProMetic Life Sciences' UK subsidiary, ProMetic BioSciences Ltd (PBL), and a biomanufacturing client has seen the successful implementation of a ProMetic Mimetic Ligand affinity adsorbent used for separating biological materials. Approximately 800 litres of a commercial Mimetic Ligand product was packed into and operated in a 1.8 meter diameter process chromatography column, the company said in a statement. The purified undisclosed biological product would be used in the next phase of clinical studies. Further details of the application were undisclosed. In recent years, PBL has seen an increase in demand for its purification technology as the demand for biotherapeutic products also increases, which now represents a market value of more than $70bn (€50.5bn). Twelve different PBL bioseperation materials have so far been adopted for the manufacture of licensed biopharmaceuticals or form components of biomedical products on the market. Most purification techniques rely on column chromatography to separate out the desired proteins or to remove particular pathogens. The Mimetic Ligand technology is highly specific for the targeted protein and can be purified in fewer steps than conventional methods and can be more cost effective compared to biological ligands, the company claims. The technology relies on the ability of proteins to recognise and bind to other molecules (ligands) in a specific (and reversible) way. The company has synthetically 'mimicked' and enhanced the natural molecular affinity of binding ligands to produce molecules that are highly specific and selective in binding proteins. The synthetic molecules can therefore be used to purify a target protein by binding it out of a mixture, or using the same process to target and remove a contaminant. Common purification targets using the technology include albumin, proteases, kinases, cytokines and antibodies, and the firm's client list includes GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk and the Menarini Group among others. To find the ligands capable of binding to a specific site on a protein, the company uses computer-aided molecular design and the synthesis and screening of combinatorial ligand libraries to aid ligand selection. "The number of companies using ProMetic's bioseperation products for the manufacture of licensed biopharmaceuticals is set to grow rapidly as products at the clinical trials stage, which already incorporate PBL's technology for their production, progresses to approval,"​ PBL chief executive Steve Burton said in a statement. "The introduction of new products and the continued expansion of our client base, especially in the area of plasma proteins, are expected to provide a further increase in demand for PBL's bioseperation products. ProMetic is well-positioned to meet these demands, following past investments in its manufacturing facilities that provide increased production capabilities,"​ he said. ProMetic recently announced it was expanding its clinical programme of PBI-1402 for the treatment of anaemic patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. PBL was unavailable for comment at time of publishing.