Aptagen Inc. Acquires ProteinGenesis Inc.Health/Medical Writers TUCSON, Ariz.--(BW HealthWire)--June 18, 2001 Aptagen Inc. in Herndon, Va., has acquired ProteinGenesis Inc. (PGI PGI Protected Geographical Indication PGI Progiciel de Gestion Intégré (French: Enterprise Resource Planning) PGI Phosphoglucose Isomerase PGI Polish Geological Institute (Warsaw, Poland) ), a protein engineering company founded in 1993 by Research Corporation Technologies (RCT RCT Randomized Controlled Trial RCT Regimental Combat Team (infantry regiment with their own artillery, engineers, medical and tanks) RCT Rollercoaster Tycoon RCT Randomized Clinical Trial RCT Rhondda Cynon Taff ) and the University of Delaware [3] The student body at the University of Delaware is largely an undergraduate population. Delaware students have a great deal of access to work and internship opportunities. . Aptagen, a gene and protein bioengineering company, develops protein products for the medical, agricultural and chemical industries. The company has combined its own Enzyme Evolution(TM) technology with that of PGI and recently launched its Protein Genesis(TM) platform for enhancing and modifying the function of human therapeutic proteins. The Protein Genesis(TM) technology, developed at the University of Delaware by Drs. Jacques J. Pene and Ramaswamy K. Iyer, produces proteins with enhanced and modified characteristics rapidly, efficiently and inexpensively. RCT managed the company since its formation. "We are pleased to find a company that saw synergy in our technology," said former PGI President and RCT Director Dr. Bennett N. Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. . "Aptagen's new Protein Genesis(TM)platform has the unique advantages of both systems." "The combination of protein engineering technology developed at the University of Delaware with that of Aptagen can provide a unique mechanism for enhancing the function of human therapeutic proteins," said University of Delaware Associate Provost for Research Dr. Richard D. Holsten. "We look forward to this combination of technologies playing a significant role in the development of new healthcare products that can benefit society." PGI employed its technology successfully to increase the bleach and heat tolerance of an important enzyme in detergents. The company also has altered the acid sensitivity of other proteins and increased the luminescence luminescence, general term applied to all forms of cool light, i.e., light emitted by sources other than a hot, incandescent body, such as a black body radiator. of the green fluorescent protein "EGFP" redirects here. EGFP may also refer to the ICAO airport code for Pembrey Airport. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a protein, comprised of 238 amino acids (26,9 kDa), from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria (GFP GFP Green Fluorescent Protein GFP Generic Framing Procedure GFP Government Furnished Property GFP Generic Frame Protocol GFP General Framing Procedure GFP Global Functional Plane GFP Global Field Power GFP Grandmothers for Peace GFP Glutton for Punishment ). For additional information about Aptagen and its products, contact Benjamin H. Rudolph, Aptagen director of public relations, 2190 Fox Mill Road, Herndon, VA 20171, 703/793-8000, ext. 250, 703/793-8037 fax, brudolph@aptagen.com Research Corporation Technologies (http://www.rctech.com) is an independent technology management company working in partnership with universities and research institutions worldwide to commercialize their biomedical and optics technologies. Commercialization vehicles include licensing programs, partnerships, seed investments and venture development of early-stage technologies. Emerging as the leader in DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. engineering technologies, Aptagen (http://www.aptagen.com) has the tools to substantially improve or alter protein function, making drugs safer through reduced side effects and increased efficacy, while simultaneously maximizing expression yield for commercial scale manufacturing. Through Aptagen's Gene Forge(TM) codon codon: see nucleic acid. optimization and custom gene synthesis platform, protein expression can be increased up to 10-fold, decreasing commercial manufacturing costs by 60 percent or more and accelerating the commercialization of the Human Genome Project. Aptagen's Protein Genesis(TM) molecular evolution platform can be used in tandem with the Gene Forge(TM) to create entirely new multi-function proteins, or can be employed to modify and enhance existing proteins to improve functionality and create safer and more potent second-generation biologics. |
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