Therapeutics
Amarna Therapeutics has developed a viral SV40-based gene delivery vector platform named SVac. The unique properties of SVac are its non-immunogenicity in humans, high stability, safety and its large scale production. The vector has extensively been tested for safety and efficacy in model animals. SV40 particles are produced by transfection of Amarna’s SuperVero cells, that support the replication of vector particles to very high titers. SuperVero cells grow well in suspension culture systems in commercially available media free of human- and/or animal-derived proteins. This enables large scale production of SVac particles in bioreactors, with yields of 1E11 transducing units per milliliter cell culture medium. The whole SVac production process is therefore similar to the current polio virus vaccine manufacturing process in which master seed viruses are seeded to cells in large fermentors.
Immunity-associated diseases such as autoimmune diseases, allergies (asthma) and cancer relate to failures in the immune response to body components or environmental factors. The costs associated with treatment of this high profile group of diseases are expanding and mount billions of euro's annually. Autoimmunity and allergy cannot be cured and the current medications only alleviate the disease symptoms. In addition, the success rates of curing patients with aggressive forms of cancer, especially those that rapidly spread through the body, are very low. Because of its unique properties, SVac is the only vector system suitable for treating immunity-associated diseases by reprogramming immune responses and for restoring genetic disorders by preventing immune responses to the introduced therapeutic gene products in treated patients.
Experts predict that the gene therapy and therapeutic vaccines market will grow from zero to a whopping 40 billion Euro's in 2015, provided that gene delivery technologies improve dramatically. With the SVac platform technology we are convinced to set the gene delivery standard. It is our first aim to develop a therapeutic vaccination to treat multiple sclerosis, followed by a vaccination to treat breast cancer. Our SVac platform has the potential to save the lifes of or improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide suffering from these life-threatening or severe chronic diseases. In order to bring benefit to public health Amarna Therapeutics is committed to bring our lead products to the market as soon as possible.
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