Pure Protein Announces Soluble Class II HLA Technology Breakthrough

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 29 Oct 2009 - 20:00 PDT

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Pure Protein, L.L.C., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in diagnostic and therapeutic reagents for use in immunology research and development, has announced that Chief Scientist William Hildebrand, Ph.D., and his team, have developed soluble Class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA). This represents a significant technology breakthrough that can dramatically impact multiple pharmaceutical and medical sectors and has enormous market potential. Autoimmune disease is a key area of interest for HLA research and product development.

Molecular Fingerprints for the Immune System

HLA Class II proteins beneficially serve as molecular fingerprints for the immune system and direct immune responses to attack infections. But they are also responsible for initiating the rejection of transplanted organs and tissues, as well as deleterious autoimmune responses.

Each person's unique set of Class II HLA molecules provides a diverse immune response to infections. While diversity is advantageous in regards to maintaining good health, it makes studying and treating this system a challenging task. Pure Protein is now able to provide a solution through its native Class II HLA proteins to characterize and modulate human immune responses.

Pure Protein is now producing highly purified Class II HLA proteins through its patent-pending methodology. Large quantities of soluble HLA (sHLA) protein from human cell lines are available for use in transplantation, drug target discovery and bio-therapeutic development. The company's soluble HLA (sHLA) production method generates pure, single species antigens with correct cellular processing, enabling powerful insight into the workings of diseased cells and the body's response to them.

Competing HLA production methods involve destruction of the cells followed by extensive yet inefficient purification steps that do not yield highly purified protein. Pure Protein's sHLA preparations are comprised of single specificity proteins without any other components of the cell. Because the company uses a recombinant form of HLA that requires minimal downstream purification, the protein can be produced in large quantities (tens of milligrams) with high purity and specificity. This breakthrough in production will facilitate the use of HLA in therapeutic areas requiring significant clinical validation.

Market Potential and Business Development

William C. Strieber, Executive Vice President of Pure Protein, said, "Our development of an efficient way to produce soluble Class II gives Pure Protein an extraordinary opportunity to create many new avenues to the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmunity, infectious diseases, cancer and transplantation related maladies. We look forward to the new collaborations the company is building to take full advantage of the leading-edge, superior technology that we can provide market leaders."

Pure Protein's soluble Class II HLA molecules address multiple unmet needs from which a broad variety of products can be developed for several multi-billion dollar markets. The global market for autoimmune disease treatments is estimated to be at $37.84 billion in 2009, and is growing at a CAGR of $12.7% from 2009 to 2014 to reach an estimated $68.81 billion in 2014.1 The US tissue and organ clinical transplantation market is expected to grow to $5.25 billion by 2012.2 In infectious diseases therapeutics (non-antibiotic), the US market was $13.5 billion in 2005 and will likely double over the next 5 years.3 Growing at a CAGR of 12.3%, the global market for cancer drugs is expected to exceed $78 billion by 2012. Cancer vaccines and antiangiogenics will record the fastest growth rate. Drug manufacturers are now focused on developing target therapies. These drugs attack target cells and thus limit the severity of side effects.4

References:

1. Research and Markets Report, "Autoimmune Treatment (2009 - 2014)," September 10, 2009.

2. Global Industry Analysts, Inc., "Organ and Tissue Transplantation: A Global Strategic Business Report," February 2008.

3. Insight Pharma Reports, "Infectious Diseases - R and D Challenges and Market Drivers," September 2006.

4. RNCOS, "Global Cancer Treatment Forecast to 2012," August 2008. Source
Pure Protein, L.L.C.
Emergent Technologies, Inc.