Biolex Therapeutics acquires LemnaGene
US clinical development-stage protein therapeutics company Biolex Therapeutics, based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, has acquired LemnaGene, a privately-held French start-up biotechnology company researching potential applications of the small, aquatic plant Lemna to produce recombinant proteins.
US clinical development-stage protein therapeutics company Biolex Therapeutics, based in Pittsboro, North Carolina, has acquired LemnaGene, a privately-held French start-up biotechnology company researching potential applications of the small, aquatic plant Lemna to produce recombinant proteins.
Biolex's patented technology platform, The LEX System, uses Lemna as a transgenic host for the development and manufacture of therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies that are difficult to make (technically or economically) in traditional recombinant expression systems. It has been successfully employed in Biolex's GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, where multiple proteins have been produced for preclinical and clinical development.
LemnaGene, based in Lyon, France, provides biomanufacturing services to the pharmaceutical, vaccine, veterinarian, diagnostic, nutraceutical and industrial protein markets. The company has several research agreements with companies in the pharmaceutical and human/animal vaccine areas.
Biolex is advancing a proprietary pipeline of product candidates including Locteron, a novel controlled-release form of β interferon which will enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2005. The company has an extensive, multi-protein strategic alliance with Centocor and collaborations with other pharmaceutical/biotech companies including Medarex and OctoPlus.
'Last year we acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical, strengthening our technical capabilities and patent position related to plant-based monoclonal antibody production,' said Biolex ceo Jan Turek.
Dr Georges Freyssinet, former ceo of LemnaGene, will remain as director of research and development of LemnaGene.