Novel production process for a highly potent recombinant protein using doggybone DNA (dbDNA) vector and cell free expression technology

Toxic medicines are becoming a major focus of the pharmaceutical industry, as high potency products need minimal amounts to dose patients and so material requirements are low. However, the associated risks of working with these toxic products can make their development problematic, and traditional manufacturing routes are often unsuitable. This project will examine using cell free expression to produce a botulinum toxin from a "doggybone DNA" (dbDNA) vector. The project will develop a closed loop system for producing dbDNA, and screen a wide range of conditions to optimise a cell free expression system, for enclosed processing of toxins to negate the health and safety risks and technical yield limitations associated with high potency biopharmaceutical production. The project is a collaboration led by Ipsen Biopharm, involving Touchlight Genetics and the Centre for Process Innovation.