Biolex

Biolex Therapeutics is a biotechnology firm in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in Lemna, a duckweed.[1] The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture. Biolex has developed recombinant DNA technology for efficiently producing pharmaceutical proteins in Lemna.[2] Therapeutic glycosylated proteins, including monoclonal antibodies[3] and interferon (IFN-alpha2b)[4] have been produced using the Lemna system at Biolex.

Biolex acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc. on May 6, 2004, and acquired LemnaGene SA of Lyon, France in 2005.[5] Biolex is a privately held company backed by Quaker BioVentures, The Trelys Funds, and Polaris Venture Partners. The term "plantibody" is trademarked by Biolex.

References

  1. ^ Goodman Peter S. In N.C., A Second Industrial Revolution: Biotech Surge Shows Manufacturing Still Key to U.S. Economy [1] Washington Post Monday, September 3, 2007
  2. ^ John R. Gasdaska, David Spencer and Lynn Dickey "Advantages of Therapeutic Protein Production in the Aquatic Plant Lemna" BioProcessing Journal, Mar/Apr 2003.
  3. ^ Cox KM et al. Glycan optimization of a human monoclonal antibody in the aquatic plant Lemna minor. Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Dec;24(12):1591-7.
  4. ^ De Leede LG, Humphries JE, Bechet AC, Van Hoogdalem EJ, Verrijk R, Spencer DG. Novel controlled-release Lemna-derived IFN-alpha2b (Locteron): pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability in a phase I clinical trial. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2008 Feb;28(2):113-22.
  5. ^ Biolex Therapeutics Acquires Lemnagene S.A.

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