Spin-offs form membrane protein partnership

Partnership agreement

Hybrigenics, a spin-off from research at the Pasteur Institute, France, that concentrates on new cancer treatments and specialises in protein interactions, has formed a strategic partnership with genomics service provider Dualsystems Biotech, itself spun off in 2000  from the Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

The partnership aims to develop Hyprigenics’ portolio using Dualsystems’ proprietary DUALmembrane yeast two-hybrid technology, which is designed to screen for  membrane protein interactions.

Yeast two-hybrid technology is widely and successfully used to identify protein interactions – but some full membrane proteins are difficult to study with the gold standard methods. It is relevant, for example, for membrane receptors, which Hybrigenics says represent as much as 40 per cent of all targets for drugs on the market or still in pharmaceutical development.

Both Dualsystems and Hybrigenics will commercialise DUALmembrane screens. These will be performed exclusively on Hybrigenics’ industrial platform.

This strategic partnership, based on a profit-sharing scheme, is aimed at boosting Dualsystems’ commercial and production volumes for its membrane technology, and at complementing Hybrigenics’  range of protein interaction services.

“We are delighted that our technology has been recognized as of special interest by Hybrigenics. DUALmembrane sales will certainly be boosted by this partnership,” said Dualsystems CEO Daniel Auerbach.

“We count on DUALmembrane to answer unmet service needs for membrane protein interactions, especially towards commercial prospects from the pharmaceutical industry," added Hybrigenics CEO Rémi Delansorne. “We expect a positive contribution to our turnover from this new service.”