Data Further Demonstrates Efficacy, Stability and Scalability Advantages of the SMARTag™ Technology for Unique Placement, Conjugation and Linker Technologies

Somerset, NJ, USA I October 14, 2013 I Dr. David Rabuka, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Redwood Bioscience, Inc. will present “Site Specific ADC Generation Using SMARTagTM Technology” at the forthcoming World ADC (Antibody Drug Conjugate) conference, October 14th-17th, in San Francisco, California. Dr. Rabuka’s session, which takes place on Wednesday, October 16th at 1:30 pm PST, will examine how ADCs can be engineered with proprietary aldehyde-tagging technology and novel conjugation and linker chemistries to enhance efficacy, safety and stability. The presentation will include new in vitro and in vivo data showing ADCs generated using the SMARTag system compared to conventionally engineered ADCs. This work supports the importance of payload conjugation site, linker design and the conjugation chemistry provided by the SMARTag platform.

The SMARTag technology enables programmable, site-specific conjugation of drugs to antibodies using aldehyde tags that are generated with only naturally occurring protein modifications requiring minimal cell-line engineering. The platform also supports the use of proprietary conjugation chemistry that prevents systemic drug loss and increases targeted potency. In addition, Redwood has developed an array of toxin-linkers which are designed for optimizing drug performance.

Catalent Pharma Solutions, the global leader in drug development solutions and advanced delivery technologies for pharmaceutical, biologic and consumer health products, recently announced that it had acquired an exclusive license to market the proprietary SMARTag technology. Combined with Catalent’s proprietary GPEx® cell line expression system, its new state-of-the-art biomanufacturing Center of Excellence in Madison, Wisconsin, and broad range of analytical and fill-finish services, this deal represents a further expansion of Catalent’s capabilities to help customers develop more and better biologic treatments.

Dr. Rabuka received a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley as a Chevron Fellow in the lab of Professor Carolyn Bertozzi. His research included developing and applying Redwood’s platform technology to cell surface modifications. Prior to joining Professor Bertozzi’s lab, Dr. Rabuka worked at the Burnham Institute, synthesizing complex glycans, followed by Optimer Pharmaceuticals, where he was an early employee, focused on the development of glycan and macrolide based antibiotics. He graduated with a double honors B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan where he received the Dean’s Science Award and holds an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Alberta. Dr. Rabuka is an author on over 20 major publications, as well as numerous book chapters and patents.

For more information, visit adc-summit.com.

About Redwood Bioscience, Inc.
Redwood Bioscience is developing a precision protein-chemical engineering technology to produce the next-generation of antibody-drug conjugates and other semi-synthetic biotherapeutics. The proprietary SMARTag site-specific protein modification technology, novel conjugation chemistry and proprietary cytotoxin-linkers enable the generation of homogenous bioconjugates engineered to enhance potency, safety and stability. The technology employs natural post translational modifications found in human cells to site specifically create one or more aldehyde tags on protein molecules. These chemical handles are then stably conjugated to cytotoxic payloads to prevent their systemic release. The SMARTag platform provides precise payload positioning and defined stoichiometry of payload–protein ratios. The control afforded by the technology also enables identification of superior drugs from libraries of differentially designed conjugates.

SOURCE: Redwood Bioscience