Patrys produces IgM antibodies using plants

Patrys (ASX:PAB) has developed a method of producing anticancer antibody PAT-SM6 using a plant-based manufacturing system.

Details of a plant-based alternative production system for Immunoglobilin M (IgM) antibodies including PAT-SM6 have been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The company developed the production system through a research collaboration with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria.

The researchers found that by modulating the properties of the plants, the system can produce fully functional antibodies that are similar to those generated by the human body. Functionality of the antibodies depends on the attached sugars.

IgM antibodies are typically produced in mammalian cell cultures, but the production process is costly. The study suggests that a plant-based system can potentially reduce manufacturing costs while retaining quality and yield.

“The exciting and novel data presented in this paper show, for the first time, that functional IgM antibodies can be made efficiently, quickly and highly cost-effectively in a plant-based system,” Patrys Vice President of R&D Dr Frank Hensel said.

“Patrys was the first company to be credited with the development of IgM antibodies in human PER.C6 cells,” CEO Dr Marie Roskrow added. “We are very excited that our lead product, PAT-SM6, is once again at the forefront of new discoveries.”

Patrys (ASX:PAB) shares were trading 2.27% lower at $0.043 as of 1.30 pm on Thursday.