Kyto Biopharma confirms TCbIR isolation

Kyto Biopharma, a Canadian biotechnology company focused on developing monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, says that for the first time it has conclusively isolated the protein and gene encoding the human vitamin B12 receptor - TCblR for the cellular uptake of the transcobalamin-bound Vitamin B12. The over expression of TCblR in cancerous cells provides the rationale for targeting the Vitamin B12 receptor in the treatment of various forms of cancer.

"The discovery of the TCblR gene and the expression of its encoded receptor protein represents a seminal milestone in the annals of cellular biology," commented Uri Sagman, a founder and a director of Kyto. "Targeting TCblR in cancer cells with monoclonal antibodies holds a tremendous promise as a strategy to combat cancer," added Dr Sagman.

The isolation of the TCblR gene and the expression of the TCblR protein was achieved by Edward Quadros and his team at the State University of New York at Downstate Medical Center, USA. In addition, the team at SUNY has successfully expressed the fragment of the receptor protein responsible for binding to the transcobalamin - B12 complex. Kyto has entered into an arrangement with third party providers to manufacture murine antibodies that will be used in the development of humanized monoclonal antibodies to TCblR.