ProtAffin AG, a biotechnology company developing a novel class of biopharmaceutical products that act by targeting cell-surface glycan structures, today announced it has signed a manufacturing contract with CMC Biologics’ Danish operations, located in Copenhagen, Denmark for manufacture of its lead product PA401 for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The contract will cover manufacture and supply of PA401 for preclinical development and early clinical development in COPD and related respiratory indications. PA401 is a glycan-binding decoy protein based on human chemokine IL-8 (CXCL8), which has shown potent anti-inflammatory activity in both chronic and acute preclinical models of lung inflammation. A composition of matter patent covering PA401 has been granted in the USA and the EU.
ProtAffin’s novel class of biopharmaceutical products are first-in-class engineered versions of human proteins which bind to cell surface glycans (sugars) to affect their biological activity. Specific cell surface glycans underlie inflammatory processes in several diseases including COPD, and represent a rich and relatively under-investigated class of potential drug targets for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. ProtAffin’s approach is entirely innovative and opens up glycans as druggable targets through the use of its CellJammer(R) discovery technology.
Dr. Andreas J Kungl, CSO of ProtAffin commented: “We are delighted to be working with CMC Biologics A/S as our manufacturing partner for our first preclinical product PA401. CMC have impressed us with their great expertise in process development for early stage biopharmaceuticals, and their reputation for customer service. Initiating manufacturing of PA401 to support preclinical and early clinical development of PA401 is a major milestone for ProtAffin.”
David Kauffmann, Chairman of CMC Biologics, commented: “It is exciting to start working with ProtAffin’s highly competent management and science team. We are confident that this is the beginning of a long term relationship, and that together our two companies will employ best and most timely manufacturing solutions for development of ProtAffin’s lead product PA401”.
