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Turning Science into Business Opportunities

Killing bacteria is not enough
Sepsis – blood poisoning – is a severe form of infection that poses pressing problems in intensive care units. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, worldwide mortality rates range from 20% for sepsis up to >60% for septic shock. “Sepsis develops when a patient’s immune system runs out of control in response to bacterial infection”, Prof. Klaus Brandenburg, scientist at the Research Center Borstel (FZB), explains. The most crucial components involved in that process are molecules at the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, known as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or endotoxins. “This means that killing the bacteria is not sufficient. The release of LPS resulting from bacterial destruction could even contribute further to the overstimulation of the patient’s immune system”, Brandenburg continues. His team has therefore developed a novel peptide with a two-fold mode of action: Firstly, it destroys bacteria and secondly, it neutralizes free LPS.

Supporting patentability
In the middle of last year, Brandenburg discussed his approach with Ascenion, the FZB’s commercialization partner. “We immediately grasped the peptide’s potential,” Dr Hinrich Habeck, Technology Manager at Ascenion comments. “But our IP analysis showed that a patent application based on available data would have had little prospect of success.” So, they jointly developed a list of research required to support the peptide’s patentability. Just two months later, the results were complete. While preparing the patent application, the FZB and Ascenion also started to look for appropriate funding opportunities and potential collaboration partners.

 

Joining forces
Prof. Brandenburg has now teamed up with Prof. Matthias Hornef at the Medical School Hanover (MHH), Dr Tobias Schürholz at the RWTH Aachen University, and a CRO (Clinical Research Organisation). The joint objective is to identify a peptide suitable as a pharmaceutical lead and to develop it until proof-of-concept in animal models. While the MHH and RWTH bring in dedicated animal models to evaluate in-vivo binding, biological activity and potential toxicity of a range of peptide variants, the CRO will initiate production and formal preclinical development to industry standards once the most promising candidate has been identified. A joint project proposal was filed by the FZB under the federal “Innovative Therapies” support programme in April 2008, just one day following the patent application. By October, the consortium had already received positive interim feedback with regards to funding. “This is an excellent example of how rapidly and effectively things can progress when scientists, medical researchers and technology transfer professionals work hand in hand. I really enjoyed working with the team”, Habeck concludes. “I am confident that they will soon receive the funds they need to advance their project to initial proof-of-concept.”

Meet us at the forthcoming events:

2008-11-17 to 2008-11-19
BIO-Europe, Mannheim / Heidelberg, Germany

2008-11-28 to 2008-11-29
Doktorandencamp 2008, Headquarters of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Munich Business School, Munich, Germany

2009-02-10
Seminar on "IP Asset Management - from theory to practice",
Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany

2009-03-04 to 2009-03-06
BioTech Networkshop, Tutzing, Germany

2009-05-08
BioVaria, Munich, Germany

News in brief:

In dialogue with the Wellcome Trust and HTGF
Ascenion invited representatives of the Wellcome Trust and the High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) to learn about some of the most attractive projects from its portfolio..more

“Biting” Antibodies against cancer
Micromet’s BiTE® antibodies are designed to activate T cells, the body’s most potent “killer” cells, specifically against cancer cells.more

PARF: One idea – many applications
 “PARF” (peptide associated with rheumatic fever) is a peptide that is present on certain pathogenic bacteria of the streptococcal family. It was discovered and described by HZI researchersmore

Improving technology transfer in national genome research
With the expiry of the national genome research network (NGFN) at the end of last year, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research restructured its support programme for medical genome research in Germany.more

New employee to support the KompetenzCenter
In May this year, Anja Kroke joined Ascenion to support the activities of the KompetenzCenter.more

Contact us:

Munich:
T +49 89 318814-0
info(at)ascenion.de

Berlin:
T +49 30 9406 230 -1/-4
berlin(at)ascenion.de

Braunschweig:
T +49 531 6181 2090
braunschweig(at)ascenion.de

Hamburg:
T +49 40 22611 278
habeck(at)ascenion.de

Hanover:
T +49 511 5328 921
cordes(at)ascenion.de

Neuherberg:
T +49 89 3187 2850
scheek(at)ascenion.de

Ascenion GmbH, www.ascenion.de