SMALL MOLECULES
Rottapharm Biotech will continue to leverage its long-standing expertise in medicinal and computational chemistry, which has allowed the design and synthesis of
- more than 15000 original compounds and
- 19 new drugs on the market.
They are covered by
- more than 500 patents
- belonging to nearly 80 patent families
and are described in
- over 1000 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Medicinal Chemistry expertise is focused on the management and coordination of activities within innovative preclinical projects. Experienced scientists are devoted to manage third-party scale-up activities to meet the needs of clinical development.
BIOTHERAPEUTICS
Rottapharm Biotech’s scientists have developed a proprietary technology platform for the generation and selection of monoclonal antibodies against a target of choice. The platform stems from a serial combination of two different technological tools.
- The first process uses molecular biology techniques to generate large libraries of antibodies from B lymphocytes, the natural source of these immune system proteins. Different types of cells in culture are then used to store these libraries, collectively named SPLINT (Single Pot Library of Intrabodies).
- The second process is a proprietary tool (IACT; Intracellular Antibody Capture Technology) which allows for the target-driven selection of antibodies from SPLINT libraries. Selection is based on the affinity of an antibody for a given antigen (the target protein). If an antibody recognizes and binds the target protein, a programmed sequence of events will start, and only the cells that produce antibodies against that target will survive. Surviving cells will be cultured separately to have a series of monoclonal (i.e. derived from one clone) antibodies against the target of choice. They will be available for identification of the best candidate(s) for further development.
Because of the flexibility of this technology platform, SPLINT libraries are a unique and virtually unlimited source of antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic, and research use. A number of patents have been filed to cover the intellectual property rights for both the enabling technologies and the products obtained (specific monoclonal antibodies or series thereof).