Common Sense for the Biochemist

Biolex announced on Friday that they had entered into an agreement with the Japanese pharmaceutical company Kringle Pharma. In this agreement, Biolex would produce a leading anti-cancer compound, NK4, using their LEX system. NK4 has been shown to prevent metastasis and angiogenesis of cancerous cells in animal models. NK4 was designed as an atagonist to hepatocyte growth factor. According to the article in the Pharmaceutical Business Review:

Biolex has now formed commercial line creation collaborations with six pharmaceutical and biotech companies encompassing a total of 16 proteins targeting multiple indications. This agreement with Kringle represents Biolex's first collaboration with a Japanese company.

In another press release, Biolex, announced the successful completion of a phase 1 study for first Lex System ™ produced therapeutic protein. The protein being produced is a form of interferon alpha. I know from several quarterly conference calls that I have listened to from LSBC that they were interested in developing their own versin of this but I believe that they have since backed maybe backed away from this protein. Added 11/02/05 - Octoplus has announced a Phase 1 study using Biolex's, alpha interferon product. And here is one from a while ago that slipped through my fingers: Biolex Therapeutics Doubles Manufacturing Capacity, Realizing Significant Economic and Time Efficiencies Capabilities in Place for Partners and Biolex Proteins This brings their total cGMP manufacturing space to 13,000 sq. feet. Looks like they are putting the $36 million that they raised in venture funding this summer to good use.