Project title: THERA P

Company name : THERA P LTD.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals

KEY WORDS

PROJECT SUMMARY
The company is based on a technology platform of reversible
pegylation of proteins, peptides and small molecules. The
conjugated drug acquires an increased half life in the body with
no loss of activity and improved PK/PD profile.

Profound pharmacological features are gained by the covalent
linkage of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to protein drugs
(pegylation). Most notably, life-time in vivo can be prolonged
from minutes to hours. Current techniques of conjugation often
yield inactivate proteins, especially with proteins and peptide
drugs of lower molecular weight, leading to a limited use and a
relative low number of pegylated-protein drugs that are
FDA-approved.
In view of this deficiency, Prof. Mati Fridkin and Prof Yoram
Shechter from the Weizmann Institute of Science developed a novel
reversible pegylation technology which allows PEG-polypeptide
conjugates to release the PEG-chains by non enzymatic spontaneous
hydrolysis in physiological conditions. The hydrolysis of PEG
conjugates proceeds at a slow continuous and predictable rate
over many hours. Removal of the PEG-chain releases the parent
peptide or protein in a non-modified and fully active form. In
other words, inactive 'pharmacologically-silent' pegylated
protein/peptides in the circulatory system undergo spontaneous
hydrolysis the PEG chain is detached and the released protein are
being fully reactivated, in a slow linear fashion with increased
half lives of 10 to 30 hrs.
This novel technology of reversible pegylation was tested in
rodents in vivo with several pegylated drugs such as insulin,
exendin-4, peptide YY3- 36, interferon ?2, human growth hormone
and atrial natriuretic peptide. In all cases, full biological
responses, were achieved. Moreover, the given doses to obtain
such responses were usually lower and for extended periods of
time, indicating a significant elevation of the half life of the
drug in the body.
Pegylation can now be applied to essentially all small peptide
and protein drugs, which are short-lived species in vivo. This
new development is expected to extend life-time, bioavailability
and efficacy of presently used protein/peptide drug candidates
marketed today (in billions of $US) as well as those in clinical
development.

ENTREPRENEURS
Dr. Pe'er David - CEO
Zvika Rubinstein - CEO of
the Meytav Technological Incubator - Chairman of the Board of
Directors
Dr. Ettie Pirak - VP
Technologies, Meytav Technological Incubator, Director

PROJECT STATUS
The company was established in August 2007.
Intellectual Property:
* Long acting-drugs and Pharmaceuticals compositions comprising
them (WO-1998/05361, US6504005, EP 1019089)
* Long acting cytokine derivatives and pharmaceutical
compositions comprising them (WO-2002/36067,
US2004131586,.EP1337270)
* Reversible pegylated drugs (WO-2004/089280, US2006/171920,
EP1620118)

COOPERATION REQUIRED
The company is seeking a partnership with Biotech/Pharmaceutical
companies who are interested in co-development of
pegylated-drugs, and private equity investors who will sponsor
the further technology and drug development process.
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TEL: 972-4-6818801 972-54-2494979 FAX: 972-4-6818806 EMAIL:
peer@meytavti.co.il

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