Selexis SA is a drug discovery company that possesses two unique technologies: MARtech and PEPtech.

• MARtech is a Selexis patented cutting edge technology for the high yield production of human native recombinant proteins.
• PEPtech is a platform technology that allows Selexis to rapidly identify peptide leads against any clinically relevant target.

Selexis intends to license MARtech to other companies in order to generate cash stream. Selexis will also combine MARtech with Peptech technologies to launch an in-house program focussed on the discovery of cancer drugs.

Technology overview

MARtech: Selexis owns a patent on the MAR technology for the production of human native recombinant protein drugs. This cutting edge technology allows a rapid generation of high producing CHO cell lines, a 10 fold higher production yields of proteins and a sustainable protein production periods (> 10 months). MARtech adds value to companies involved in the large scale production of recombinant proteins as drugs. MARtech enables customers to drastically reduce their manufacturing costs by increasing their protein production yields. Selexis thus offers key competitive advantages to its customers by allowing them to easily produce large quantities of protein drugs while drastically reducing their cost of production.

Peptech: Selexis will initially focus on identifying peptide leads against targets involved in the progression of prostate cancer. The target classes (recombinant proteins) will be produced utilising MARtech and specific peptides capable of hitting the targets will be identified using the PEPtech platform technology. It is anticipated that peptide leads will enter pre-clinical trials in mouse tumor models by the end of 2003 with results concerning their efficacy coming by 2004.

Perspectives

Selexis is creating a network of partners involved in the production of recombinant protein drugs offering a solution for drastically reducing their manufacturing costs (e.g. monoclonal antibodies). Selexis is automating its PEPtech platform technology that will rapidly identify novel potential peptide lead compounds.