Avecia Tunes in to 'pPop'TM Gene Expression System

08-Nov-2001

Avecia has added to the microbial gene expression technologies of its biologics development and contract manufacturing operation with launch of the new 'pPOP’TM E.coli Expression technology. Gene expression is a key part of the overall process for making recombinant protein pharmaceuticals. ‘pPOP’TM offers Avecia’s customers more efficient and faster development programmes leading to more productive manufacturing processes and lower cost-of-goods.

Developed through strategic R&D within AstraZeneca (former owner of Avecia’s predecessor, Zeneca Specialties), ‘pPOP’™ technology adds to Avecia’s already strong know-how in process creation, process development and GMP manufacturing of E.coli and yeast-derived protein therapeutics for biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers.

Avecia Biotechnology’s R&D Manager Dr. Mark Carver commented: “Our new 'pPOP’™ technology is a tightly regulated but fully inducible expression system. A unique feature is that the production rate of a desired protein product can be directly modulated by the concentration of inducer, added during fermentation”.

This feature allows the protein product production rate to be 'tuned' to match the protein and its site of accumulation (intracellular as inclusion bodies, soluble or secretion into the periplasm) within the microbial cell. This provides a ‘generic’ E.coli expression system. ‘pPOP’™ also has the advantages of being both growth medium and host strain independent.

Dr Carver concluded: “Avecia’s focus on seeking improvements in process productivity for recombinant protein therapeutics through innovative technology will continue to team in-house inventions with complementary in-licensing of leading methods”.

The ‘pPOP’™ development is the latest in a series to boost Avecia Biotechnology’s gene expression tool kit. In May, Avecia announced that it had licensed the patented bacterial cell expression technology of XOMA Ltd. for use by its Biologics contract development and manufacturing business at Billingham.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/5794/avecia-tunes-in-to-ppop-tm-gene-expression-system.html