Biolex
Encyclopedia
Biolex Therapeutics is a biotechnology
firm in the Research Triangle of North Carolina
. The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in Lemna
, a duckweed. The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture. Biolex has developed recombinant DNA
technology for efficiently producing pharmaceutical proteins in Lemna. Therapeutic glycosylated proteins, including monoclonal antibodies
and interferon
(IFN-alpha2b) have been produced using the Lemna system at Biolex.
Biolex acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc. on May 6, 2004, and acquired LemnaGene SA of Lyon, France in 2005. Biolex is a privately held company backed by Quaker BioVentures, The Trelys Funds, and Polaris Venture Partners
. The term "plantibody
" is trademarked by Biolex.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
firm in the Research Triangle of North Carolina
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...
. The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in Lemna
Lemna
Lemna is a genus of free-floating aquatic plants from the duckweed family. These rapidly-growing plants have found uses as a model system for studies in community ecology, basic plant biology, in ecotoxicology, in production of biopharmaceuticals, and as a source of animal feeds for agriculture...
, a duckweed. The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture. Biolex has developed recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA molecules are DNA sequences that result from the use of laboratory methods to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be found in biological organisms...
technology for efficiently producing pharmaceutical proteins in Lemna. Therapeutic glycosylated proteins, including monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are monospecific antibodies that are the same because they are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell....
and interferon
Interferon
Interferons are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens—such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites—or tumor cells. They allow communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that eradicate pathogens or tumors.IFNs belong to...
(IFN-alpha2b) have been produced using the Lemna system at Biolex.
Biolex acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc. on May 6, 2004, and acquired LemnaGene SA of Lyon, France in 2005. Biolex is a privately held company backed by Quaker BioVentures, The Trelys Funds, and Polaris Venture Partners
Polaris Venture Partners
Polaris Venture Partners is a venture capital firm specializing in seed and early stage investments particularly in companies engaged in the information technology and life sciences sectors....
. The term "plantibody
Plantibody
A plantibody is an antibody produced by genetically modified crops. Antibodies are part of animal immune systems, and are produced in plants by transforming them with antibody genes from animals. This was first done in 1989, with a mouse antibody made by tobacco plants...
" is trademarked by Biolex.