Pieris and Pepscan to Identify GPCR-Specific Anticalins(R) Using CLIPS(TM) Protein Mimicry Technology
30/10/2007 10:02
PR Newswire
FREISING-WEIHENSTEPHAN, Germany, October 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Pieris AG (Munich, Germany) and Pepscan Therapeutics (Lelystad,
Netherlands) today announced the commencement of a research collaboration
aimed at identifying Anticalins(R) specific for G-Protein Coupled Receptors
(GPCRs) and their development as therapeutic candidates.
Pieris has pioneered Anticalins(R) as next generation targeted
therapeutics with clear advantages over monoclonal antibodies, while Pepscan
has developed CLIPS(TM) technology to yield immunogens targeting functional
epitopes on proteins. Through this newly announced collaboration, the
companies aim to combine and apply their respective technologies to the
discovery and development of novel Anticalins(R) able to modulate GPCR
function in disease.
GPCRs form one of the most important classes of drug targets, yet for
many of these receptors, no pharmacologically active small molecule drugs
have been identified. Biotherapeutics provide an intriguing alternative if
they can be selectively targeted to functional epitopes, yet monoclonal
antibodies modulating GPCR action have to date proven technically
challenging. Pepscan's CLIPS(TM) technology has the distinct advantage of
selectively identifying functional mimics of the extracellular portions of
GPCRs which are fundamental in biology. Such mimics will be used by Pieris to
select Anticalins(R) with disease modifying potential.
"Pieris has successfully isolated and characterised high potency
Anticalins(R) against structurally diverse functional epitopes on a wide
range of medically relevant proteins", said Dr Andreas Hohlbaum, Director of
Science and Preclinical Development at Pieris. "Incorporating Pepscan's
CLIPS(TM) technology into our selection and screening process now allows us
to discover Anticalins(R) with high affinity and selectivity for specific
GPCRs".
Dr Rob Meloen, Chief Scientific Officer of Pepscan Therapeutics
commented: "Functional binding proteins directed against GPCRs are in great
demand as disease-targeting agents. This collaboration allows Pepscan to
apply its protein mimicry technology to GPCRs for the identification of
Anticalins(R) with therapeutic potential".
Notes to Editors
About Pieris AG
Pieris is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and
development of Anticalins(R), a novel class of targeted human proteins
designed to diagnose and treat serious human disorders. Exploiting extensive
know-how in protein engineering as part of a broad intellectual property
portfolio, the Company applies a balanced risk business model to the
development of Anticalin product candidates.
About Anticalin(R) Technology
Anticalins are engineered by Pieris from the scaffold of human
lipocalins, a family of natural ligand binding proteins. Anticalins are
selected to have prescribed binding properties with selectivity and affinity
fundamentally similar to that of monoclonal antibodies. Being human in
origin, Anticalins are predicted to have minimal immunogenicity in man. Where
Anticalins benefit compared to conventional antibodies is in their small size
(20 kDa), their robust physicochemical properties and their simple
composition that together allow highly soluble, predictably stable products
to be manufactured from bacteria. Anticalins are amenable to further
engineering to balance their favorable tissue penetration with adjustable
serum clearance. Moreover, Anticalins have been developed as Duocalins(R),
whose dual targeting format allows multiple targets to be bound and modulated
through a single molecule.
Further information is available at http://www.pieris-ag.com
Anticalin(R) is a registered trademark of Pieris AG.
About Pepscan Therapeutics
Pepscan Therapeutics is a product focused immunotherapy company based in
the Netherlands. It has developed a pipeline of therapeutic vaccines of which
the most advanced is in Phase II clinical testing. Pepscan's proprietary
CLIPS(TM) technology has been proven to yield functional antibodies reactive
with a range of complex proteins, including GPCRs.
About CLIPS(TM) Technology
Chemically Linked Immunogenic Peptides on Scaffolds (CLIPS(TM)) is a
technology to present one or more peptides in a structurally constrained
configuration. These molecules behave as functional mimics of complex protein
domains that serve as superior immunogens in the induction and selection of
antibodies against disease relevant protein targets. This is especially
valuable in the case of proteins that are inaccessible as recombinant
proteins (e.g GPCRs, ion channels, patented proteins).
Further information is available at http://www.pepscan.com
For further information, please contact:
Pieris AG Phone +49(0)8161-1411-400
Dr Birgit Zech, Senior Manager Business Development
Pepscan Therapeutics Phone +31(0)320-237200
Peter van Dijken, Chief Commercial Officer
For further information, please contact: Pieris AG, Dr Birgit Zech, Senior Manager Business Development, Phone +49(0)8161-1411-400; Pepscan Therapeutics, Peter van Dijken, Chief Commercial Officer, Phone +31(0)320-237200