Companies Commence Therapeutic Protein Development Program

Alloksys Life Sciences, CEVEC Pharmaceuticals and PharmaCell have announced the start of Theraptech, a €2.4 million ($3 million) therapeutic protein development program subsidized under the European Trans Bio Program. The major objective of the project is to develop a recombinant human alkaline phosphatase (rhuAP) using the novel versatile human CAP cell line, which has been shown to efficiently express glycosylated proteins.

The rhuAP is expected to feature an improved pharmacokinetic and safety profile allowing for repeated dosing of alkaline phosphatase in chronic diseases. Based on a the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of alkaline phosphatase towards e.g. TNFa, IL-6 and IL-8, as shown in both pre-clinical and clinical studies in acute conditions, it is proposed to be developed as a therapeutic protein in major chronic diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The combined expertise of the members covers the spectrum of activities needed to drive the project from molecular biology to GMP-production and recombinant product testing in preclinical and clinical trials.

This is to be followed by a clinical phase II compliant product within the 3-year-time frame of the project.