Aragen and Transposagen launch knockout cell line for mAb development

By Gareth Macdonald

- Last updated on GMT

Aragen Bioscience and Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals launch new cell line for mAb development
Aragen Bioscience and Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals launch new cell line for mAb development

Related tags Cell line Gene Dna

Aragen Bioscience and Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals have launched a knockout CHO cell line and development services they clam allows for the development of more effective therapeutic mAbs.

The new cell line – known as FUT8 CHO DG44 - lacks the gene for the enzyme fucosyltrasferase which is responsible for incorporating units of the sugar fucose into the ‘backbones’ of antibodies.

Antibodies with low fucose content are better able to interact with immune cells and are therefore more potent therapeutic agents than antibodies that contain higher amounts of the sugar.

Similar technologies have been developed by Lonza​ – whose GS Xceed expression system uses a cell line that lacks fucosyltrasferase – and ProBiogen​ – whose GlymaxX technology uses an enzyme to redirect molecules otherwise destined to be turned into fucose.

Under the new collaboration, Aragen will offer protein expression and cell line development services while Transposagen will provide custom gene editing capabilities to drugmakers that want to insert genes into the CHO DG44 line or further tweak the new cell line.

The Transposagen service will be based on its piggyback DNA modification system that has already been adopted by a number of Big Pharma partners, including Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Janssen unit​, to develop CAR-T cancer therapies.

Initially, the cell line will be aimed at early development projects, however, Aragen and Transposagen plant to launch a version suitable for commercial-scale, good manufacturing practices (GMP) compliant monoclonal antibody (mAb) production.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

eBook: mRNA prospects and scale-up solutions

eBook: mRNA prospects and scale-up solutions

Thermo Fisher Scientific - Biosciences | 22-Mar-2023 | Insight Guide

This mRNA eBook was created by Thermo Fisher Scientific, in collaboration with Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), to provide you with...

Create Better Biologic Treatments with Catalent

Create Better Biologic Treatments with Catalent

Catalent | 21-Feb-2023 | Product Brochure

Deliver safe and stable products to your patients with the help of Catalent Biologics' Limoges, France site, a European Center of Excellence for early-phase...

Trends in Biopharmaceutical Raw Material Selection

Trends in Biopharmaceutical Raw Material Selection

Actylis – The Partner of Choice | 31-Jan-2023 | Business Advice

Join us as our in-house experts, along with Cecile Bellamy from Pfizer, discuss current and future trends in biopharmaceutical raw material selection.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars