Novozymes and Upperton extend deal

Danish biotechnology firm Novozymes and UK-based counterpart Upperton have extended the scope of their collaboration agreement. The partnership is focused on the commercial exploitation of the jointly-owned rP-nano drug delivery system that uses the natural binding properties of recombinant protein nanoparticles to enhance drug and gene bioavailability.

Under the terms of the revised deal, Upperton will generate nanoparticles from recombinant proteins produced by Novozymes' proprietary, yeast-based expression system. Particles produced by the UK firm are in the 10-12nm range and can be optimized for enhanced permeability and retention characteristics.

Novozyme's UK-based business development director, David Mead, said that the rP-nano platform has huge potential, and added that the deal further exemplifies the capacity of the firm's high-yield expression system to produce pharmaceutical-grade recombinant proteins.