Proteus and the University of Bern Sign a Research and License Agreement.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

NIMES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2000

Proteus and the University of Bern (Switzerland) have entered into partnership to accelerate the development of the application of a new technology for which they have recently filed together a patent. Under the terms of the agreement, Proteus will have the worldwide exclusive license for the use of this new technology which results from the investigations of Prof. Jean-Louis Reymond, one of the best experts in biocatalysis worldwide.

This new technology, brand-named CLIPS-O(TM), enables the design and the synthesis of novel families of specific substrates to be used in high throughput screening for new industrial enzymes. CLIPS-O(TM) substrates mimic very closely the chemical structure and energetic state of the industrial substrates. The use of these substrates on PHENOMICS(R) screens developed by Proteus enables to select only enzymes that are active on actual industrial substrates while discarding those that are active only on conventional laboratory substrates. Moreover, the signal to noise ratio is dramatically improved by CLIPS-O(TM).

"CLIPS-O(TM) provides an ideal fit with our proprietary functional screening technology PHENOMICS(R)," said Daniel Dupret, President and CEO of Proteus "When scientists at Proteus start a screening program, it is as if we would ask nature a question. The better the question, the better the answer. Thanks to CLIPS-O(TM), we can now formulate the best and most accurate questions and get the best enzymes as a reply."

The CLIPS-O(TM) technology provides a novel and versatile toolbox for the high throughput screening of a large number of enzymatic activities such as lipases, esterases, proteases, nitrilases, acylases, epoxyhydrolases, amidases, phosphatases, xylanases, alcohol dehydrogenases etc... Both colorimetric and fluorimetric detection can be used.

Under the terms of the agreement, Proteus will also have exclusive worldwide rights to all technology improvements that Prof. Reymond's team at the Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of the University of Bern will continue to develope in partnership with Proteus.

Proteus is an independent research company conducting biotech research programs in partnership with the industry. The company's research focus is the discovery and the design of novel industrial enzymes and other biomolecules of industrial interest. The company's activities are supported by specialist know-how and a portfolio of proprietary intellectual property.