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Human recombinant therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal
antibodies, blood proteins and enzymes, are the fastest
growing category of medicines. These biotechnology drugs are
composed of complex proteins and are more difficult,
time-consuming and expensive to produce than traditional
synthetic pharmaceuticals.
The iBioLaunchâ„¢ platform holds promise as an easier, more
time-efficient and less expensive technology for production of
biotech drugs. We are developing and producing plant-made
human recombinant antibodies for treatment of influenza and
anthrax. These antibodies can be used either before exposure
to prevent infection or after exposure as therapeutics.
While predicting the timing of an influenza pandemic is not
possible, reducing the potentially devastating impact of an
outbreak requires an efficient method to distinguish avian
influenza infections from other respiratory diseases,
including seasonal flu. There currently are no rapid
diagnostic tests available for this purpose. We have
discovered an antibody that distinguishes highly pathogenic
avian influenza strains from human seasonal influenza viruses
and are developing a point-of-care diagnostic
product. |