LEXINGTON, Ky., June 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aragen Bioscience, Inc. (“Aragen Bioscience”), in partnership with Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Transposagen), has developed a FUT8 knockout CHO DG44 host cell line. The elimination of the FUT8 gene results in afucosylated protein products. When applied to antibodies, the result is increased ADCC activity, and improved efficacy. Aragen Bioscience, is now offering protein expression and cell line development services with this cell line for products to be used for research purposes. The launch of a FUT8 knockout CHO DG44 host cell line for the development of high-expressing cell lines suitable for GMP manufacturing is expected in the second half of this year.
Transposagen is now offering custom gene editing services using the FUT8 knockout CHO DG44 host cell line. Examples of custom services would be to rapidly and stably integrate a customer’s transgene into the cell line using the piggyBacTM DNA Modification System or to further genetically modify the cell line to enhance protein production. Transposagen will also offer gene editing kits containing the cell line and Transposagen’s unique technologies, including Footprint-FreeTM Gene Editing, to create disease-specific cell lines and XTNTM TALEN or NextGENTM CRISPRs to create additional gene knockouts and knock-ins. Industry and academic researchers will be able to create their own engineered cell lines or outsource the work, providing them with access to manufacturing services and a clear path to commercialization through partnerships with Transposagen and Aragen Bioscience.
“We have been working with Transposagen for some time on this and are very excited to offer this service to our clients, thereby enabling them to evaluate the efficacy of their antibody candidates in an afucosylated setting,” said Oren Beske, Ph.D., COO of Aragen Bioscience. “Easy access to this unique service further broadens our portfolio and positions Aragen Bioscience as a value-added partner to the biopharmaceutical industry.”
Eric Ostertag, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Transposagen added, “This FUT8 knockout cell line is a powerful demonstration of what our industry-leading gene editing technologies are capable of. We view this as the beginning of a great partnership with Aragen Bioscience and we have been discussing additional cell line engineering projects that are predicted to have a large impact on the protein therapeutic space.”
About Aragen Bioscience
Aragen Bioscience, Inc. is a privately held contract research organization with offices and laboratories in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aragen Bioscience offers a diverse set of services for the discovery, characterization, activity assessment and early development of biologic and diagnostic products. More information on Aragen Bioscience can be found at www.aragenbio.com
About Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.:
Transposagen is a worldwide leader in genome engineering technologies and services with applications in therapeutics, research & drug discovery, bioproduction, clinical genetic testing and agriculture. Our products and services include the Footprint-FreeTM Gene Editing System, piggyBacTM, NextGENTM CRISPR, XTNTM and RTNTM TALENs, and custom cell lines, stem cells, and animal models. Our unique genome engineering capabilities allow for the creation of nearly any genetic modification in any genome. More information on Transposagen’s gene editing technologies and services can be found at www.transposagenbio.com
