Diversity Generating Retroelements Combine Significantly Greater Protein Engineering Capabilities with Greater Ease of Use

SOUTH SAN FRANCSICO, Calif., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- AvidBiotics Corp. announced the issuance of foundational patents encompassing a completely novel mechanism for generating massive diversity within precisely targeted sites of protein-encoding DNA sequences. The technology platform is referred to as Diversity Generating Retroelements (DGR) and patents were issued in both the United States (#7,585,957) and in Europe (#1,173,995). UCLA and AvidBiotics Corp are co-assignees of the patents, and AvidBiotics holds exclusive, worldwide rights to the patents from UCLA.

"These patents substantiate the novel ground-breaking work of our co-founder, Jeffrey F. Miller, and could lead to an entirely new, more efficient way of creating new protein therapeutics and improving the safety and/or efficacy of existing therapeutic proteins", said David Martin, Jr., chief executive officer of AvidBiotics. "Due to the magnitude of potential diversification and unique functionality, the DGR system as a technology platform could also enable the creation of new diagnostic reagents. At AvidBiotics, we are using this exciting technology to discover and develop novel antibacterials, antivirals and anti-cancer agents."

The advantages of the DGR system over more traditional tools include: 1) the unprecedented size of library diversity; 2) the ease of use; 3) the focused nature of the mutations; and 4) the ability to keep repeating the mutagenic cycles without loss of the protein scaffold or previous gains.

AvidBiotics' focus is to utilize the DGR system to diversify natural R-type pyocins (Avidocin(TM) proteins) to target problematic pathogens affecting human health and the safety of the food supply, for example, Clostridium difficile and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. Additionally, the company is modifying a known mechanism and scaffold using the DGR to target highly virulent viral pathogens of interest to the biodefense community.

About AvidBiotics

AvidBiotics Corp is a biotherapeutics company with a proprietary technology platform focused on the development of genetically modified protein products for the treatment of major infectious diseases, both bacterial and viral. Founded in 2004, by David Martin, Jr., Jeffery F. Miller, and James Knighton, based on technology discovered by Dr. Miller and colleagues, AvidBiotics has technology that enables diversification of protein structures in a precise manner. The core technology has direct applicability to human therapeutics and diagnostics, veterinary medicine, agriculture and food safety, research tools and reagents. AvidBiotics is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For more information go to www.avidbiotics.com.

SOURCE Avidbiotics Corp.

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