TAMPA, Fla. & GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Oragenics, Inc. (ORNI) (the Company), a leader in the area of oral care probiotics and a developer of therapeutic products including novel antibiotics, and Intrexon Corporation, a synthetic biology company that utilizes its proprietary technologies to provide control over cellular function, announced today the formation of a global exclusive channel collaboration through which Oragenics intends to develop and commercialize lantibiotics, a novel class of broad spectrum antibiotics, as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the treatment of infectious diseases in humans and companion animals.
John N. Bonfiglio, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Oragenics, stated, We are excited about the tremendous potential that the collaboration brings to the Company and we look forward to working with Intrexon. Intrexons state-of-the-art science will allow us access to new techniques and processes which could rapidly allow us to move toward commercializationofthis exciting and novel class of antibiotics.
Randal J. Kirk, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Intrexon, said, Intrexon thrives on accepting challenges and solving problems that have proved resistant to the efforts of its predecessors. As was the case with our recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin (rHuA1AT) project, the production of lantibiotics through bioindustrial process has been a high-value goal that we now take on with confidence and commitment. We are pleased to be working with the Oragenics team on this high-value opportunity.
Under the collaboration, Oragenics will utilize Intrexon's advanced transgene and cell engineering platforms for the development and production of lantibiotics, a class of peptide antibiotics that naturally are produced in Gram-positive bacteria and contain the characteristic polycyclic thioether amino acids lanthionine and methyllanthonine. Lantibiotics have shown broad-spectrum antibiotic properties against Gram-positive bacterial infections, such as MRSA and VRE in pre-clinical studies, yet their development as commercially viable products continues to be subject to significant technological hurdles.
Intrexon will be responsible for technology discovery efforts, cell-engineering development, and certain aspects of the manufacturing process. Oragenics will be responsible for conducting preclinical and clinical development of candidate lantibiotics, as well as for other aspects of manufacturing and the commercialization of the product(s).
Under terms of the transaction agreements:
Oragenics will receive an exclusive, worldwide license to utilize the products of Intrexons modular genetic engineering platform for the development of API and drug products involving the direct administration to humans or companion animals of a lantibiotic for the prevention or treatment of infectious disease.
Intrexon will apply its proprietary platforms and technologies, including UltraVector, DNA and RNA MOD engineering, protein engineering, transcription control chemistry, genome engineering, and cell system engineering, to Oragenics lantibiotics program.
Oragenics is responsible for funding the further anticipated development of lantibiotics toward the goal of commercialization.
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Oragenics and Intrexon Announce Worldwide Exclusive Collaboration for Lantibiotics
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