Grants and Contributions:

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Title:

Approach to enhance human antibody expression in plant cells

Agreement Number:

EGP

Agreement Value:

$25,000.00

Agreement Date:

Sep 20, 2017 -

Organization:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Location:

Alberta, CA

Reference Number:

GC-2017-Q2-04359

Agreement Type:

Grant

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Additional Information:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Recipient's Legal Name:

Muench, Douglas (University of Calgary)

Program:

Engage Grants for Universities

Program Purpose:

Plant-based production of high-value therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, provides anx000D
attractive alternative to protein expression in mammalian cell systems. PlantForm Corporation is an establishedx000D
Canadian company that is supporting the lab of Dr. Douglas Muench at the University of Calgary on studiesx000D
aimed at delivering an enhanced protein expression technology that can be universally applied to the expressionx000D
of any high value protein of interest. One of PlantForm's most advanced products is a breast cancer therapeuticx000D
antibody. This grant will support a new collaborative research project that will test the hypothesis that a novelx000D
RNA-binding protein coupled to a translational enhancer can specifically elevate the expression of thisx000D
antibody in a plant cell system. The Muench lab at the University of Calgary has recently characterized ax000D
sequence specific, high affinity RNA-binding protein (APUM23) from the model plant Arabidopsis. Whenx000D
coupled to a translational enhancer, APUM23 has the potential to significantly increase the synthesis of thisx000D
therapeutic antibody. Success with this project will result in substantial revenue generation or cost savings tox000D
PlantForm, and will further establish the company as an industry leader in plant expression of therapeuticx000D
proteins.