Objective
The aim of the SAGE project is to establish an improved plant production platform for pharmaceutical glycoproteins. Plant systems are inexpensive, scalable and safe, providing unique advantages for the production of pharmaceutical proteins, including therapeutic antibodies that are normally too expensive to produce through conventional means. This applies particularly to antibodies that are required in large amounts for use as diagnostics or in the treatment of certain types of cancer. However, the glycan structures added by plants are different to those found in humans, and the glycoform of an antibody is strongly influenced by the plant species, tissue, cell type and age. Using different plant-based expression systems and mammalian cells as a control, we intend to produce a therapeutic antibody that recognizes the well-characterized carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The antibody will thus be produced as a panel of different glycoforms, which we will test these systematically for stability, efficacy (e.g. in Fc-receptor binding assays, tumour cell binding assays and tumour grafting) and pharmacokinetic properties such as serum half life and ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity). These results will be exploited to develop safer and more active glycoform varieties for therapeutic applications. The SAGE project will be carried out by an international consortium of laboratories including one SME, four research organizations and two companies (Bayer BioScience, which is not requesting EU funding, and Icon Genetics). These participants are recognized as leaders in plant-based production technology and immunology, so approximately equal weighting will be given to the plant genetics and antibody characterization work within the project. The consortium is strengthened by the participation of Bayer BioScience, part of Bayer AG, a large company with a pharmaceutical division that has the ability to bring protein therapeutics to the market.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- agricultural sciences agricultural biotechnology agricultural genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-7
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.