Isogenica announces new collaboration with NovaBiotics

Release date: 4 October 2010

Isogenica and NovaBiotics to fast-track discovery of new applications for NovaBiotics’ anti-infective peptide technology platform

Isogenica Ltd, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with NovaBiotics, a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company to fast-track the development of Novabiotic’s anti-infective peptide technology platform.  

As part of the agreement, NovaBiotics will work with Isogenica on two research projects, one concerning peptide selection and the other concerning peptide maturation with the aim of expanding Novabiotic’s product portfolio.

Founded in 2000, Isogenica specialises in the discovery of therapeutic and diagnostic peptides and proteins using its proprietary technology CIS display, and has developed a unique capability in the field of peptide engineering. CIS display is an in vitro display technology that allows the rapid generation of polypeptide libraries of unprecedented size and complexity. 

NovaBiotics’ current product portfolio includes Novexatin^®, a topical treatment for fungal nail infection which has recently completed Phase IIa clinical trials and Novamycin^®, a candidate treatment for potentially life-threatening blood stream and deep tissue yeast and mould infections (predominantly Candida) which is expected to enter clinical development in 2011.  In addition, NovaBiotics’ antibacterial peptide drug candidates are now at the lead compound selection stage for both the treatment of respiratory infections including multi-drug resistant forms and deep tissue and skin infections including MRSA.

Kevin Matthews, CEO of Isogenica commented: “Following on from the successful antimicrobial project with Dstl, we are delighted that NovaBiotics have chosen Isogenica as their partner for these two projects.  As a company we are focused on servicing the protein engineering needs of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and as a result of such partnerships we are discovering highly active lead candidates for drug development.”

Dr Deborah O’Neil, Founder of NovaBiotics, commented: “I am delighted to be working with Isogenica on this research project.  They are experts in the field of peptide engineering and their CIS–Display technology is ideal for screening NovaBiotic’s vast library of anti-infective peptides as efficiently as possible and enabling NovaBiotics to fast-track the development of its product pipeline.”

NovaBiotics joins a growing list of leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies that have already partnered with Isogenica in the discovery of novel peptides for therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications or licenses, including Centocor, Pfizer, Dstl, Phylogica, and UCB.

Press enquiries:

Sarah Brereton, Limewash Media & Design         M: +44 (0)7796 583 223

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Kevin Matthews, Isogenica Ltd                           M: +44 1799 533682

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Note to Editor

About Isogenica:

Isogenica specialises in providing protein engineering services using its core technology, “CIS display”, to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for the discovery, identification and design of new peptide, polypeptide and antibody lead compounds. CIS display can construct within a few hours polypeptide libraries of unprecedented size and complexity in vitro, without the need for cloning. These can be processed to identify better products and motifs in just a few days. Active peptides with antibody-like levels of affinity and specificity for target compounds can be isolated and then rapidly matured to optimise desirable qualities. CIS display technology has particular benefits against biological membrane preparations, cells and bacteria. The technology is adaptable for the display of different proteins and has been licensed for the Centyrin scaffold.  www.isogenica.com

About NovaBiotics

NovaBiotics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which was founded in 2004 and focuses on the design and development of novel peptide antifungal and antibacterial therapeutics. Through a streamlined, informed drug design approach, the Company has successfully delivered a phase IIb-ready lead clinical asset, Novexatin^® in a very short space of time. The initial unblinded results from the Phase IIa study were excellent.  All study end-points were met in the trial which had been designed to assess the safety and tolerability of the novel antifungal drug candidate.

Furthermore, the Company’s second product, Novamycin^® is anticipated to reach a phase I clinical study for a global $5.7bn systemic antifungals market by H1, 2011.

NovaBiotics has an attractive mix of a clinical product, unique platform technology and a robust product pipeline, which the directors believe have the ability to treat a range of poorly served and economically significant infections.

www.novabiotics.co.uk