Dyadic enters R&D deal for its fungus-based expression system
The collaboration aims to explore the potential of Dyadic’s C1 gene expression technology to produce an important active moiety.
Confidentiality agreements restricted Dyadic CEO Mark Emalfarb from divulging the global biotech partner, but he told Biopharma-Reporter “C1 provides them with a potentially better, lower cost manufacturing process and a way to offer a biologically derived product instead as it is being produced now chemically.”
80g/l
Dyadic retained the C1 technology for biopharma applications following the sale of its industrial biotech business to DuPont for $75m in December 2015.
The expression system is based on Myceliopthora thermophila fungus, and has achieved production productivity of around 80g/l of a single high purity enzyme in the biotech space.
Such a platform could revolutionise the biopharma space if similar yields can be replicated commercially, as currently typical bioprocessing titres are under 10g/l, requiring large steel bioreactors or multiple runs in single-use bioreactors to produce commercial volumes.
“There is a new kid on the block to rival E. Coli, CHO and yeast,” said Emalfarb. He added C1 has the potential to both make approved biologics “quicker and better, with Lower CapEx and OpEx,” and “move research and development forward” in new drug candidates which otherwise would be delayed or not brought forth at all.
Widening C1 use
This deal itself is the latest in a growing number for Dyadic, and allows the firm to further develop additional genetic capabilities and gain further valuable insight to the inner workings of how to better modify and grow C1 cells.
“This research funding, as in the case of our other existing government and industry funded projects, provides us with greater knowledge, experience and scientific tools and capabilities to continue to improve the C1 platform technology,” we were told.
“It will enable us to introduce C1 to a new pharmaceutical field that is based on primary and secondary metabolite products,” he continued, adding it will help widen C1 exposure.
“We anticipate C1 will become an important production platform for many forms of biologics including antigens, vaccines, antibodies, enzymes and other therapeutic proteins, and primary and secondary metabolites.”
