Synthetic Mini-Chromosomes for Antibody Production

Project Information

MiChomAbs

Grant agreement ID: 889074

DOI

10.3030/889074

Project closed

EC signature date 13 November 2019

Start date 1 December 2019

End date 31 May 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

RIBBON BIOLABS GMBH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MiChomAbs (Synthetic Mini-Chromosomes for Antibody Production)

Reporting period: 2019-12-01 to 2020-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Ribbon Biolabs is a DNA synthesis company focusing on the production of long DNA molecules, at high throughput and at affordable prices. This project analyzed the feasibility of applying our DNA synthesis technology to the generation of expression systems for the generation, screening and production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other biologics. The central target is to reduce costs, and ultimately serve the urgently needed expansion of the active repertoire of therapeutic mAbs to address unmet medical needs across the most common diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The main objectives of this feasibility study were (a) the strategic positioning and planning for market entry by exploring opportunities for strategic alliances with partners and customers for vertical scaling through clients in the biopharmaceutical industry as well as (b) the consolidation of our IP strategy and portfolio.
This study has allowed identifying bottlenecks in screening, engineering and production of mAbs, some of which can be overcome aided by the synthesis of complex DNA. More specifically, Ribbon Biolabs’ technology enables the construction of mAbs libraries and conjugated genetic systems facilitating their expression, in the range of medium-size plasmids (~10K bp) to mini-chromosome-like structures (~100K bp).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed within this project resulted in 1) the identification, study and engagement of potential clients and/or end users and 2) the refinement of the relevant value chains given the most promising production networks, 3) the development and planning for a refined business model and 4) the development of an IP strategy and technology forecast.

We interviewed a set of potential customers, thereby developing competitor-intelligence analyses. At the same time, we identified the right partners to cooperate with as a market-entry point. Also, we started provisions to expand our patent portfolio, which will ensure a rightful and fair exploitation of our IP for the customer’s and end-user benefit.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Ribbon’s customer base are biotech and pharma companies, CROs and CMOs, including SMEs, but the end customers of biologics, biosimilars and mAbs are, ultimately, the patients. Increasing the availability of long DNA will therefore increase the availability of biologics to the customer by lowering production time and prices but also facilitate the development of new biopharmaceutical products in industry and academia.

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