Biolex

Type: Private
On the web: http://www.biolex.com
Employees: 46

More than a catalyst for change, Biolex Therapeutics (formerly Biolex, Inc.) wants to be a catalyst for transmogrification. Biolex uses its LEX System and "Plantibodies" technologies for harvesting proteins from Lemna, an aquatic plant, and genetically transforming them into monoclonal antibodies for use in treating human diseases such as hepatitis C. Its lead drug candidate, Locteron, when combined with ribavarin, greatly reduces the viral load of the disease while causing fewer side effects. Its BLX-155 is used to dissolve blood clots; BLX-301 is designated for treating non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. Chairman Chris Hegal owns just under 25% of the company. Biolex has withdrawn its IPO filing.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008:
Sales: $3.5M

Officers:
Chairman: P. Sherrill Neff
President, CEO, and Director: Jan P. Turek
SVP Research and Development and COO: David G. Spencer

Competitors:
Eli Lilly
GlaxoSmithKline
Schering-Plough

Biolex Therapeutics is a biotechnology firm in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in Lemna, a duckweed.^[1] The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture. Biolex has developed recombinant DNA technology for efficiently producing pharmaceutical proteins in Lemna.^[2] Therapeutic glycosylated proteins, including monoclonal antibodies^[3] and interferon (IFN-alpha2b)^[4] have been produced using the Lemna system at Biolex.

Biolex acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc. on May 6, 2004, and acquired LemnaGene SA of Lyon, France in 2005.^[5] Biolex is a privately held company backed by Quaker BioVentures, The Trelys Funds, and Polaris Venture Partners. The term "plantibody" is trademarked by Biolex.

References

• Official site
• Background information on production of therapeutic proteins in 'Lemna'

1. ^ Goodman Peter S. In N.C., A Second Industrial Revolution: Biotech Surge Shows Manufacturing Still Key to U.S. Economy [1] Washington Post Monday, September 3, 2007
2. ^ John R. Gasdaska, David Spencer and Lynn Dickey "Advantages of Therapeutic Protein Production in the Aquatic Plant Lemna" BioProcessing Journal, Mar/Apr 2003.
3. ^ Cox KM et al. Glycan optimization of a human monoclonal antibody in the aquatic plant Lemna minor. Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Dec;24(12):1591-7.
4. ^ De Leede LG, Humphries JE, Bechet AC, Van Hoogdalem EJ, Verrijk R, Spencer DG. Novel controlled-release Lemna-derived IFN-alpha2b (Locteron): pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability in a phase I clinical trial. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2008 Feb;28(2):113-22.
5. ^ Biolex Therapeutics Acquires Lemnagene S.A.

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