Greenovation and University of Freiburg cooperate to fight an Extremely Rare Disease
Date: 11.6.2015
Greenovation Biotech GmbH and the University of Freiburg signed a cooperation contract to preclinically evaluate plant-made recombinant human Factor H (rFH) for treatment of atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).
Greenovation will establish a production process for high quality rFH-product with tailored N-glycosylation utilizing the companies cGMP-compliant BryoTechnology. In parallel, Prof. Reski`s group at Freiburg University will introduce genetic modifications into the rFH production strains to further humanize the products so called N-glycosylation. A third group around Dr. med. Karsten Häffner at Freiburg University hospital has established preclinical in vitro and in vivo-models for aHUS and will evaluate biological efficacy of rFH.
"We are looking forward to another successful cooperation with the University of Freiburg” says Dr. Thomas Frischmuth, CEO of Greenovation. “This partnership will enable the development of a novel and very innovative therapy in an inimitable team. We are sure that the high level of expertise as well as the close neighborhood of the groups will have a substantial positive impact on the project`s results.”
Prof. Ralf Reski, a founder of Greenovation, is enthusiastic about the cooperation. “This kind of private-public partnership is the innovative core of bioeconomy and will help substantially in developing next generation therapies.”
About Factor H
Factor H is a complement control protein. A genetic deficiency of factor H may cause chronic uncontrolled complement activation. This results in complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy which leads to the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels, the atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). aHUS is an extremely rare, chronic disease that mostly affects children but can arise at any age. Patients face a lifelong risk of sudden and life-threatening damage to their organs, mostly to kidneys and liver.
Author: Manon Bartusel, Greenovation Biotech GmbH
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About Greenovation Biotech GmbH
Greenovation develops next generation biopharmaceuticals in particular in rare disease indications. Human alpha-Galactosidase is the company`s lead product being developed as enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) for Fabry Disease. Results of the recently completed pre-clinical program clearly indicate very good therapeutic features with respect to pharmacokinetics (delayed clearance), pharmacodynamics and biodistribution. A multi-center clinical Phase I/II study with this candidate will be undertaken in Europe.
Greenovation`s development pipeline further includes glucocerebrosidase (glucerase, for ERT of Gaucher`s disease), complement factor H (to treat atypical HUS), antibody (IgG) programs for enhanced ADCC as well as growth factors (FGF7/KGF, EGF, HGF) for various applications.
