AstraZeneca Seminar on PlantFORM and Plantibody
Advancements in Targeted Cancer Therapy: Is a Paradigm Shift Necessary?
Speakers: Eva Furczon, Thomas O’Sullivan, Gavin Ouyang, Gurdeep S. Shah
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Treatments of the disease include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. The cancer cells are usually found over express markers including estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2+, which have been used as targets of hormone therapy and immunotherapy. An example of a humanized monoclonal antibody used in immunotherapy is Herceptin (trastuzumab), an antibody which binds to the HER2+ receptor and leads to G1 growth arrest of the cell.
Traditionally, monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of breast cancer are made from mammalian cell cultures. This process is expensive, time intensive, and has a limited global capacity which is approaching its threshold. It is clear that the pharmaceutical industry must consider alternative production methodologies.
PlantFORM, established in early 2008, is currently investigating the production of monoclonal antibodies using tobacco plants as bioreactors. Plants can offer advantages such as lower cultivation and scalability costs, high yields, and low capital investments. By creating recombinant humanized antibodies in transgenic tobacco plants, PlantFORM aims to cost effectively generate biosimilars.
This seminar will evaluate the regulatory, manufacturing, and technical hurdles PlantFORM is currently facing, and make recommendations based on our analysis. The BioIntelligence Group believes that a paradigm shift towards plant bioreactors is necessary such that commercial production of monoclonal antibodies remains viable, available and affordable to patients.
Date and Time: 6:30pm, Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Location: CCT 3150, University of Toronto Mississauga
For webcast information please click here.
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