EpiStem, a private Manchester based biotechnology company, announced today that it has entered into a contract manufacturing agreement with Eden Biodesign (Liverpool, UK), a leading provider of support and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical research industry. Eden Biodesign will produce potential therapeutic proteins from a range of 250 regulator genes that EpiStem identified via comprehensive screening process to detect changes in adult stem cell regulator levels in intestinal tissues undergoing repair.

Under the terms of the agreement Eden Biodesign will produce proteins that are coded for by the regulator genes identified by EpiStem. EpiStem’s Contract Research Division will evaluate the 250 proteins for their ability to up or down regulate cell production in the gut using its industry-respected preclinical efficacy testing models. These models have been widely used by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to evaluate candidate agents for their ability to protect/repair the gut from the toxicity of chemotherapy in cancer patients. The models specifically elucidate dose and dose schedule of drug candidates and their mechanism of action.

Dr. Jeff Moore, Managing and Commercialisation Director of the Novel Therapies Division at EpiStem, said: “EpiStem has achieved an important milestone in translating its unparalleled understanding of the regulation of adult stem cells in the gut into a programme that we believe will yield a portfolio of protein based regulator molecules that we can test for efficacy in our industry- respected adult stem models. Eden Biodesign’s manufacturing expertise and capabilities will significantly accelerate our discovery programs.”

Dr Crawford Brown, CEO of Eden Biodesign commented: “We are pleased to be able to use our leading expertise to provide EpiStem highly tailored services that will accelerate their drug discovery program.”

The project will be executed at the state of the art National Biomanufacturing Centre (NBC), a £34.25 million initiative developed and owned by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). Dr Linda Magee, NWDA Biotechnology Sector Director & Head of Bionow, commented: “We are pleased that companies from the region are benefiting from the NBC facility.” Eden Biodesign is the operator of the NBC on behalf of NWDA.

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