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Symansis purchases Apollo Cytokine Research

Trade Press Release: Symansis/Apollo

New Zealand biotech company, Symansis has bought Apollo Cytokine Research for an A$500,000. The Australian business specialises in the development, manufacture and marketing of human cell expressed (hcxTM) proteins for drug research and offers the world's largest range of these superior human proteins.

Apollo Cytokine Research develops cell proteins that are made by a proprietary process utilising a human cell line and purification techniques that avoid the necessity for putting a tag on the molecules. They are consequently functionally and structurally much closer to those produced by the human body than by any other source or process. They behave in the same way as human proteins produced naturally because they have all the necessary post translational modifications not found in human proteins produced in non-human cell lines such as E coli or Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. This greatly increases their usefulness in a wide range of research.

Such reagents are critical for pharmaceutical companies and researchers doing translational research and stem cell research as human cell expressed (hcxTM) proteins may have considerably different biological properties than non-human expressed proteins, due to correct protein folding, improved protein-protein interactions, increased stability and half-life, and exposure of only natural epitopes. These proteins will dovetail well with the products that Symansis is developing for cell signalling researchers. Symansis is focusing on developing tools that will help researchers to predict the effects - both desirable and undesirable - of potential drugs.

Symansis chairman Andrew Turnbull says "We will be expanding our biotech base by bringing in these innovative products and the expertise that lies behind them. The manufacture will be transferred to our strategic manufacturing partners, South Pacific Sera, in Timaru, New Zealand, where we are co-locating our research laboratories. This will add to our core products that were developed in The University of Auckland. We are in the process of employing several researchers including commercially experienced scientists from overseas who will help build a highly skilled and competent New Zealand - based team."

Apollo Cytokine Research is part of parent company Apollo Life Sciences. Dr Peter Foster, Symansis' CEO, says the acquisition is a sound and strategic one for Symansis, providing critical mass and traction at an important stage in Symansis' own development.

"The fit for us is really superb and we are excited to have this opportunity to jump start our own business," he says.

Dr Foster says cancer diagnostics could be developed, although initially the company will focus on the manufacture and provision of the Apollo proteins along with Symansis cell signalling antibodies and antibody/protein arrays to researchers.

This acquisition will allow Symansis to extend its networks through Apollo's distribution agreements in USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. It will produce new markets as well as potential sales channels for Symansis' existing antibodies and new products and add Apollo's existing and growing sales to its own.

"Leanne Daly who was Apollo Cytokines Research's President will act as marketing and business development consultant for the whole Symansis business. This will help us ensure a smooth transition with customers and boost of whole marketing effort", says Dr Foster

It also enables Symansis to boost its competitive advantage by using the superior (hcxTM) proteins in its cell signalling research and assay kits. This improves the quality of tests researchers can perform and adds previously unavailable testing with more reliability and less time and cost.

"The area of cell signalling research is the largest and fastest growing in drug research, it is estimated that approximately 30% of all drug research is conducted in this area. It is expected that in future cell signalling research will mean clinicians can assess defects in the cell signalling pathways in a patient's tumour cells, giving better prognostic information and allowing selection of the most appropriate treatment. We need further research to assess this, but the potential - and benefit to patients - is large."

Symansis was supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in relocating the initial business from the UK and has received the benefit of funding from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology for the early development of the antibodies through The University of Auckland. The University remains a key strategic partner and shareholder, and the Professor of Cell Signalling at the University, Dr Peter Shepherd, is a Founder of Symansis and the CSO.

Prof. Shepherd says he is extremely excited about this acquisition, which will add great value to the company.

"It is really exciting to see the business that I, along with several other scientists and supporters, founded and relocated from the UK some two and a half years ago moving ahead in such a positive way. I think it is important to recognise the support that we had from New Zealand grants and from the University in the early years. The business would definitely not be where it is now without their support and I think this is a great example of how properly channelled research funding can have a really positive effect for NZ."

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