FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2008
For more information:
Gordon Wilkerson, Public Relations Specialist
Owensboro Medical Health System
270-685-7191
gwilkerson@omhs.org
KBP’s Geneware product to be used in HPV vaccine development
Second-generation HPV vaccine to be produced in tobacco plants
OWENSBORO, Ky. – The University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center has licensed technology for a second-generation vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) to Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT), a Louisville-based private company dedicated to bringing new anti-cancer therapies to market.
The vaccine, to be produced in tobacco plants, targets the HPV L2 protein. Vaccines currently on the market have a different target, the L1 protein. Second generation vaccines, based on the L2 protein, may provide broader immune protection against a greater number of the more than 200 strains of HPV at a lower cost than current vaccines.
The intellectual property, licensed to ACT through UofL’s Office of Technology Transfer, is based on research by associate professor Kenneth Palmer, professor A. Bennett Jenson and their colleagues. Palmer conducts research at the Owensboro Cancer Research Program (OCRP), a joint venture that Owensboro Medical Health System established with UofL in February 2006. OCRP is housed on the second floor of the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
“We hope that the technology we are using to manufacture this vaccine will yield a product at a cost that will facilitate its use in resource-poor areas of the world where vaccines against HPV are most needed,” said Palmer.
“The human papillomavirus is the leading cause of cervical cancer and is increasingly being implicated in other cancers, such as those of the head and neck. As we learn more about the virus, it is becoming even more important to be able to protect people from preventable cancers by vaccinating them against this disease,” said Jenson.
In order to bring the vaccine to market quickly, ACT has also licensed rights to GENEWARE®, a technology owned by Owensboro-based Kentucky BioProcessing, LLC (KBP). GENEWARE® uses an engineered tobacco mosaic virus to carry the L2 protein into the tobacco plant, where the plant’s natural growth reproduces the protein in larger quantities, producing the vaccine’s key ingredient in a cost-effective manner.
“Licensing these technologies together is extremely exciting,” said ACT President and CEO Randy Riggs. “We are committed to moving as quickly as possible in the further progression of this vaccine toward use in humans and are proud to be doing it with know-how developed right here in Kentucky.”
“Joining forces on this exciting project allows ACT, KBP and the Brown Cancer Center to leverage the business, scientific and intellectual property capabilities of three Kentucky-based entities to develop a solution to a very serious world health concern,” said Hugh Haydon, chairman for KBP. “We are proud to be part of this collaboration.”
About Kentucky BioProcessing, LLC (KPB)
KBP (www.kbpllc.com) is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and is a world leader in the expression, extraction, purification and commercial scale production of proteins and other products from plants. KBP offers clients and collaborators access to controlled plant growth facilities along with bench, pilot and full scale processing facilities capable of production under cGMP conditions. In addition to its own capabilities KBP is able to leverage the experienced staff and facilities of the Owensboro Cancer Research Program and provides linkages to the considerable plant made product expertise of the Owensboro area agriculture community and to other services offered throughout the region designed to support research, development and growth of a plant made product business cluster.
About Geneware
The GENEWARE® system is owned by KBP and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most potent, robust and effective plant-based gene expression systems and uses a specifically altered tobacco mosaic virus as a vehicle to carry a target protein. Once this altered virus is introduced into a host plant, the natural growth of the plant causes the protein to be reproduced in larger quantities. Expression of antigens in plant systems offers the potential for products of appropriately-folded viral antigens under cost-effective and favorable agricultural scale conditions.
About Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT)
ACT is a for-profit private company dedicated to advancing novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of cancer. ACT has successfully established a unique and innovative business model with the University of Louisville's James Graham Brown Cancer Center (Brown Cancer Center) whereby ACT is able to obtain exclusive worldwide licenses to novel cancer therapeutics discovered at Brown Cancer Center under preset business terms. ACT then fast-tracks these discoveries, including the selection process for partnership, commercialization and manufacture, to the pharmaceutical industry, and ultimately to the patients who need them. Led by Dr. Don Miller, the Brown Cancer Center employs over fifty leading scientists focused on the discovery and advancement of breakthrough cancer therapeutics for patients suffering from cancer. For more information, please visit: http://www.advancedcancertherapeutics.com.
About UofL’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center
The James Graham Brown Cancer Center is a key component of the University of Louisville's Health Sciences Center and UofL Health Care. As the region's leading academic, research, and teaching medical center, our patients benefit from the latest medical advances, often long before they become available in non-teaching settings. The Brown Cancer Center is affiliated with the Kentucky Cancer Program and the National Cancer Institute. It is the only cancer center in the region to use a unified approach to cancer care, with multidisciplinary teams of physicians working together to guide patients through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. For more information, please visit: http://www.browncancercenter.org.
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June 12, 2008
Kentucky BioProcessing, LLC Acquires Plant Based Gene Expression Technology
OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY—As part of a continued commitment to maintaining its position as a world leader in the development of the plant-made pharmaceutical industry, Kentucky BioProcessing, LLC (KBP) recently completed acquisition of the GENEWARE® intellectual property platform—designed and created to enable the expression of genes and the proteins which they encode in plants.
The GENEWARE® system is widely recognized as one of the world’s most potent, robust and effective plant-based gene expression systems. Its acquisition complements KBP’s existing facilities, expertise and intellectual property portfolio. KBP can now operate as a single source provider for anyone interested in the expression, extraction and purification of a therapeutic protein or other high value product for commercial purposes.
While there are a number of technologies enabling the expression of proteins in plants, most systems are held on a proprietary basis with limited commercial availability for those outside of its immediate ownership. In announcing the acquisition, KBP signaled its intent to use the technology as a tool in business development. It also seeks to enhance the reputation of the Owensboro area in the plant-made pharmaceutical and plant-made industrial protein industry by offering broad commercial licensing opportunities to the GENEWARE® system.
“We believe that combining the availability of this enabling technology with our processing and commercial scale production capabilities enables us to offer researchers, collaborators and other product developers a clearly defined commercialization path and competitive advantage,” KBP Chief Operating Officer Barry Bratcher said.
The GENEWARE® technology is typically used with a specially developed variety of the tobacco plant. This quick-growing plant serves as a high-yield ‘factory’ for bulk production of human, animal or plant proteins. This use of the tobacco plant plays to the strengths of Owensboro area farmers who have demonstrated tremendous expertise at cultivation of crops for use in biotechnology and plant-made protein production. Commercialization of a single product using the GENEWARE® technology could result in creation of large new markets for Kentucky farmers. KBP’s purchase of the technology was supported in part by a loan from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund administered by the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy.
“The acquisition of this technology was a natural fit for us,” said Hugh Haydon, Chairman for KBP. “It perfectly supports our objectives as well as those of our parent organization, Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS), by enabling creation of novel new products for the treatment and prevention of disease. The GENEWARE® platform also enhances our ability to drive economic development for both our region and the state. We are very grateful for the vision and support of OMHS and the Agriculture Development Board.”
Mapp Press Release
September 20th, 2007
As part of its focus on development of a commercial scale production platform for its products, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. (Mapp) today announced that the company will expand operations to the Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP) campus in Owensboro, Kentucky. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Mapp has developed and is currently producing several different plant derived products. The expansion to the KBP campus is intended to allow Mapp to leverage the unique expertise and capability of KBP to develop full scale cGMP production methods for its products, enabling clinical trials and ultimately product commercialization.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. (
www.mappbio.com) was founded in 2003 to develop novel pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, focusing on unmet needs in global health and biodefense. Mapp’s scientific team has core competencies in immunology and infectious disease as well as plant biology and the production of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in plants. In July, Arizona State University, Mapp and KBP announced a collaboration agreement on anti-viral microbicides intended to protect women from certain infectious diseases. Mapp has also previously announced that it was working with KBP on development of monoclonal antibodies for use in immunotherapy for
Clostridium difficile disease. Incidence of
Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) continues to increase and is a growing concern of medical professionals.
Mapp’s presence is not expected to require any immediate expansion or improvement to the KBP campus. Instead Mapp will take over office space and make use of existing labs and other facilities allowing its scientific team to work more closely with the experts at KBP in product development and in refining production systems.
“We are excited about further strengthening our ties to KBP, a world-leader in cGMP production of plant-derived pharmaceuticals,” said Mapp CEO Kevin Whaley. “Our presence in Owensboro is designed to facilitate collaboration between our scientific team and the experienced professionals at KBP but it also allows us to take advantage of the many assets that the region offers to companies and researchers interested in plant derived products.”
“Working with Mapp has been an absolute pleasure and we are delighted to welcome them not only to KBP but to Owensboro as well. Their products and their people are perfect examples of the quality research and expertise that will make KBP successful. We are extremely proud that they have not only chosen to work with us but have also decided to become a neighbor,” said KBP Chairman Hugh Haydon.
KBP (
www.kbpllc.com) is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and maintains a highly experienced staff and facilities focused on expression, extraction, purification and commercial scale production of proteins and other products from plants. KBP offers clients and collaborators access to controlled plant growth facilities along with bench, pilot and full scale processing facilities capable of production under cGMP conditions. In addition to its own capabilities KBP is able to leverage the experienced staff and facilities of the Owensboro Cancer Research Program and provides linkages to the considerable plant made product expertise of the Owensboro area agriculture community and to other services offered throughout the region designed to support research, development and growth of a plant made product business cluster.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. (Mapp) and Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP) are expanding their ongoing collaboration aimed at developing, refining and producing low-cost pharmaceutical products for large, cost sensitive markets in global health. Mapp, KBP and Arizona State University previously announced an effort to develop monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) intended to protect women from HIV and other infectious diseases. Mapp and KBP today announced a new project to target development of monoclonal antibodies for use in immunotherapy for Clostridium difficile disease. Incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) continues to increase and is a growing concern of medical professionals.
Work on the new target will continue utilizing a tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) plant based production system. This system offers the promise of a versatile, rapidly scalable platform for production of large volumes of product. In addition to these features, plant based manufacturing systems offer the ability to develop products at much lower cost than traditional biotechnology production methods. By producing the host tobacco plants in enclosed growth facilities, the researchers expect to optimize the amount of product generated by each plant while minimizing any concerns over negative environmental impacts.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. (
www.mappbio.com) was founded in 2003 to develop novel pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, focusing on unmet needs in global health and biodefense. Mapp’s scientific team has demonstrated expertise in immunology and infectious disease as well as plant biology and the production of monoclonal antibodies in plants.
“This new project is further expression of the confidence that we have in the KBP team to help us define the optimum plant growth, extraction and production strategy and bring this important product one step closer to market”, said Mapp President Larry Zeitlin.
According to KBP Chairman Hugh Haydon, the company’s relationship with Mapp goes beyond the simple exchange of a fee for service. “Mapp’s expertise and focus on utilization of the tobacco production system along with their commitment to develop products designed to serve the public good is a perfect compliment to our own abilities and objectives. We continue to be honored to be included as a part of their important work”, said Haydon.
KBP (
www.kbpllc.com) is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and maintains a highly experienced staff and facilities focused on expression, extraction, purification and commercial scale production of proteins and other products from plants. KBP offers clients and collaborators access to controlled plant growth facilities along with bench, pilot and full scale processing facilities capable of production under cGMP conditions.
ASU Press Release
July 25, 2007
Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, Mapp Biopharmaceutical and Kentucky Bioprocessing Collaborate on Development and Production of Pharmaceutical Products from Tobacco
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, Mapp Biopharmaceutical and Kentucky Bioprocessing (KBP) will collaborate on developing, refining and producing low-cost pharmaceutical products for large cost sensitive markets in global health. The initial product targets include monoclonal antibodies for use in microbicides and mucosal vaccines to prevent transmission of certain infections. The three organizations also expect to collaborate on other products.
Charles Arntzen, PhD, of ASU’s Biodesign Institute is leading the team whose work is supported through funding from the National Institutes of Health, a component of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of the initial collaboration is to move the vaccines and monoclonal antibodies into production and clinical trials.
The tobacco (Nicotiana Benthanmiana) plant based production system selected for use by the team offers the promise of a versatile, rapidly scalable platform for production of large volumes of product. In addition to these features, plant based manufacturing systems offer the ability to develop products at much lower cost than traditional biotechnology production methods. By producing the host tobacco plants in enclosed growth facilities the researchers expect to optimize the amount of product generated by each plant while minimizing any concerns over negative environmental impacts.
“While advances in biotechnology have provided the world with some incredible preventative, therapeutic and diagnostic products, these products are often very expensive, making them unavailable to many people, especially in the developing world,” said Arntzen. “We believe that our work has the potential to pave the way for products that offer the same level of efficacy while meeting unmet needs of large, cost sensitive markets in global health,” he said.
In acknowledging its role in the collaboration, KBP Chairman Hugh Haydon said, “We are delighted to be part of this distinguished team conducting such important work. The leadership of Dr.Arntzen and ASU along with the expertise of Mapp are perfect compliments to the experience and capabilities of KBP. We look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the practical feasibility of developing a commercially scalable production system for these plant derived products.”
The Biodesign Institute (www.biodesign.org) is located on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University. It is a recognized international leader in the area of plant-based pharmaceutical research. The Biodesign Institute targets complex global challenges, fusing the biosciences with nanoscale engineering and advanced computing to develop solutions. Its research includes innovations that improve health care, provide renewable sources of energy, clean the environment; outpace the global threat of infectious disease; and enhance national security.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical (www.mappbio.com) was founded in 2003 to develop novel pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, focusing on unmet needs in global health. Mapp will lead the effort to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the microbicide in clinical trials.
KBP (www.kbpllc.com) is located in Owensboro, Kentucky and offers a unique facility and experience focused on expression, extraction, purification and commercial scale production of proteins and other products from plants. Tobacco plants producing the monoclonal antibodies will be grown in KBP’s state of the art controlled growth facilities and KBP will be responsible for developing and implementing a manufacturing process that is capable of producing large quantities of the products under cGMP conditions.
Contact:
The Biodesign Institute at ASU
Charles Arntzen, PhD
(480) 727-7322