The technology – which was developed by scientists at the UK Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC-LMB) – allows CRB to combine a biopharmas customers’ biomolecule with many different cell penetration peptides simultaneously to accelerate the selection process as spokesman Laurent Caron explained.
“There isn’t a universally successful carrier and often researchers have to select one that works for a particular cargo and a particular cell type. We offer researchers a screening tool to identify successful carriers for their application saving them time and money.”
He told BioPharma-Reporter.com that screening is necessary because while a lot of research has been done the mechanism by which peptide enter cells is poorly understood, making it difficult to identify the molecule with the best characteristics for drug delivery.
“There are unresolved questions regarding the uptake mechanism of cell penetrating peptides and different pathways have been suggested. Direct penetration is a possible explanation, the carrier CPP forming a pore or a micelle by interaction with the cell membrane.”
UK-headquartered CRB plans to begin offering the technology as a contract service to scientists working in academia and at biotech and pharmaceutical companies for research purposes from October as commercial director Emily Humphrys explained.
"We are really pleased to be able to provide a long-awaited service for the selection of the most appropriate cell-penetrating peptide for delivery of drugs to both academic researchers and industry
Mike Gait, from the MRC, was similarly upbeat, adding that: "We are very excited that CRB has taken on our new method and will open it up to a wider number of researchers and to industry, ultimately enabling the development of new treatments."