GTC  Biotherapeutics, Inc. (GTC, Framingham, MA) has entered into an extended  agreement with PharmAthene, Inc. (Annapolis, MD) under which GTC will provide  continuing process development and clinical supply manufacturing services for  PharmAthene’s Protexia program. The manufacturing work is planned to conclude  in the third quarter of 2008. Protexia is a recombinant form of human  butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE) produced in the milk of transgenic goats, which  is being developed by PharmAthene as a pre- and post-exposure therapy for  victims of a chemical nerve agent attack.

  Although the  use of human plasma derived butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to protect against  nerve agent toxicity is well documented, a major limitation hindering its  commercial development has been the inability to produce commercial quantities  because of a limited availability of appropriate blood supplies, low levels of  the protein in plasma, and low production yields using traditional  biotechnology methods. Protexia overcomes these limitations by enabling  substantially larger production yields than are possible using other expression  systems or through purification of the native protein from human plasma.  Transgenic production and manufacturing is estimated to be capable of supplying  sufficient rBChE to make Protexia available for use by the military and  civilian populations.

News

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. (GTC, Framingham, MA) has entered into an extended agreement with PharmAthene, Inc. (Annapolis, MD) under which GTC will provide continuing process development and clinical supply manufacturing services for PharmAthene’s Protexia program.