FINA Biosolutions receive a patent for the expression and purification of the conjugated vaccine protein

FINA Biosolutions receive a patent for the expression and purification of the conjugated vaccine protein

Fina Biosolutions announces that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for the expression and purification of the conjugated vaccine protein CRM197 in E. coli. CRM197 is a key component of many vaccine formulations used worldwide.

“Our goal is to reduce the vaccine cost barrier and provide people who need access to life-saving vaccines,” said Dr. Andrew Lees, Founder and CEO of Fina Biosolutions. "We couldn't be happier to announce that we have succeeded in creating a needed vaccine protein, CRM197, in an efficient and more cost-effective manner. Our proprietary production method will help people around the world protect themselves, their children and their loved ones from pneumonia, meningitis and more."

Prior to Fina Biosolutions' new production method, the CRM197 protein from Corynebacterium diphtheriae was produced at low yields or was commercially available at high cost. Limited access to the protein hampered vaccine development and significantly increased vaccine production costs, particularly for emerging market manufacturers. The recent exclusionary patent covers the revolutionary new method of CRM197 expression from FinA biosolutions, which produces the protein at very high yields without the need for Corynebacterium diphtheriae. CRM197 produced by this method is soluble, properly folded and expressed in the cytoplasm of E. coli, a bacterium commonly used in biotechnology.

With this invention, cost-effective production of a valuable vaccine component is now possible and opens the door to the production of conjugate vaccines at lower costs. Relevant applications have been submitted and issued or pending in many other countries. The United States' issuance of US Patent No. 10,093,704 closely follows the additions of corresponding applications in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Fina Biosolutions Markets CRM197 under the trade name EcocoCrm® for E. coli CRM197. The protein has been extensively evaluated in preclinical studies including vaccines for infectious diseases, cancer, addiction treatment and Alzheimer's disease. ECOCRM® is available for licensing.

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