SBIR-STTR Award

Generation of Stable Eukaryotic Cell Lines Expressing High Yields of Therapeutic Human Antibodies Against Biowarfare Viral Threat Agents
Award last edited on: 2/11/2015

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Army
Total Award Amount
$3,070,847
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
A05-179
Principal Investigator
Luis M Branco

Company Information

BioFactura Inc

8435 Progress Drive Suite Z
Frederick, MD 21701
   (301) 315-8002
   info@biofactura.com
   www.biofactura.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 06
County: Frederick

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2006
Phase I Amount
$119,621
The generation, characterization, and optimization of stable mammalian cell lines for large-scale antibody production comprise an intricate process that costs millions of dollars and requires nearly one year of development time. When standard methods are employed, the process of generating stable cell lines requires nearly 6 months; however, BioFactura's proven proprietary technologies can routinely reduce the cell line generation timeline to 2 - 2.5 months. In addition, the downstream cell line development process is reduced since the lines are, from the onset, adapted to serum free medium formulations. Therefore, production of clinical quality material can be achieved in less than 7 months and research material in as little as 3 months, while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance. BioFactura has established a collaboration with USAMRIID, and specifically with Dr. Guttieri, as a basis for attaining proof of concept on existing technologies that generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with prophylactic and therpeutic value against viral biowarfare agents, and to build a platform upon which to seek funding through the DoD's SBIR and STTR programs. In this regard, BioFactura's objectives provide a unique opportunity for Dr. Guttieri to expedite production and in vivo analyses of mAbs identified as candidates for future clinical studies that evaluation the efficacy of these antibodies against viruses with bio-weapon potential.

Keywords:
STABLE EUKARYOTIC CELL LINE, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY, BIOTERRORISM, SMALLPOX, NOVEL EXPRESSION SYSTEM, NOVEL MAMMALIAN EXPRESSION SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2006
Phase II Amount
$2,951,226
The proposed effort aims to test the protective efficacy of full length VACV-specific human mAbs derived from a phage FAb combinatorial library in a series of relevant in vitro and in vivo studies. To date, two such mAbs have been partially characterized and shown to neutralize VACV replication in vitro. FAbs to additional VACV targets known to elicit protective immunity in vivo are being identified and converted to full length IgGs. The ultimate goal of this effort is to generate a combinational therapeutic of human mAbs to several neutralizing VACV proteins, that confer the highest degree of protection against vaccinia, smallpox, monkeypox, and other orthopoxvirus infections. This approach is based on previous work showing that protective immunity to orthopoxviruses is best achieved when multiple neutralizing epitopes are targeted (Hooper et al., 2000, Hooper et al., 2003, Hooper et al., 2004, Chen et al., 2006).

Keywords:
COMBINATION NEUTRALIZING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPEUTIC, MAMMALIAN CELL EXPRESSION, SMALLPOX, VACCINIA, MONKEYPOX, IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES.