Gryphon, UC Berkeley, To Codevelop Improved Glycoprotein Production Methods
Gryphon Sciences (South San Francisco, CA) has entered into a BioSTAR Project research agreement with the University of California, Berkeley. The focus of the research will be the development of novel methods for the synthesis of glycoproteins, which occur in nature as highly potent messenger molecules. Several high-value biopharmaceuticals are glycoproteins, including erythropoeitin (EPO), a multi-billion dollar drug which stimulates the production of red blood cells in kidney dialysis patients.
Current recombinant DNA production methods for glycoproteins produce a mixture of chemical and isomeric forms (glycoforms) of a given molecule, in other words, heterogeneous mixtures. To date, there have been no good methods for producing homogeneous glycoproteins, that is, sufficient amounts of only one specified form of the glycoprotein. That, in a nutshell, is the focus of the BioSTAR project.
An animated view of the glycoprotein, SDF1-alpha
Gryphon's management believes that making homogeneous glycoprotein will be of great value, not only for obtaining a better understanding of the function of these important molecules but also for designing and producing improved glycoprotein-based therapeutics.
Dr. Stephen Kent, Gryphon's president and chief scientist, stated, "This is an exciting project for us. It combines Gryphon's proprietary technology for chemical protein synthesis with leading-edge expertise in Professor Carolyn Bertozzi's laboratory in the Chemistry Department at UC, Berkeley. This collaboration will leverage our early work on glycoprotein synthesis into a major technology development program with the University of California.
"Gryphon will have the opportunity to obtain exclusive rights to any inventions which emerge from the collaboration. For The University of California, this program is another way to support and diversify its research programs and increase employment opportunities in the State of California. It's a win-win program."
Gryphon Sciences uses novel chemical synthesis technology to produce proteins for application in drug discovery and as potential high-value proprietary protein therapeutics. The company's chemical synthesis approach allows researchers, for the first time, to synthesize proteins quickly and systematically from gene sequence data, thereby greatly accelerating drug discovery.
For more information: Stephen B. H. Kent, president and chief scientist, Gryphon Sciences, 250 E. Grand Ave., Suite 90, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Tel: 650-952-7714. Fax: 650-952-3055.