DTU Announces the Creation of a Massive Protein Characterization Database

In an effort to minimize the risk associated with protein aggregation of aqueous biologics, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) announced it will launch a public database containing information about the properties and behaviors of proteins in large-molecule pharmaceutical formulations. The project, which will be run by PIPPI (Protein-excipient Interactions and Protein-Protein Interactions in formulation) and DTU, will be funded by a $30-million stipend from Horizon 2020, the European Commission’s EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation that is meant to improve Europe’s competitiveness in pharmaceutical science. The project will be rolled out over the next four years, and DTU plans to hire 15 new PhD-level positions beginning in 2016 to help support the project.

Information on the formulation of biologics, excipients, protein stability, and the activity of a product in solution will be included in the database. The comprehensive protein library will include characterization information on protein size, charge, hydrophobicity, and a protein’s ability to interact with surrounding substances.

The project's current partners include the University of Manchester, the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Lund University, Novozymes A/S, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Medlmmune Ltd, the University of Copenhagen, MAXIV Laboratory, and Nano Temper Technologies GmbH.