Synthetic Biologics and Intrexon have commenced development of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy, SYN-005, to treat pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.
To manage the rising number of pertussis cases, Synthetic Biologics intends to decrease the mortality rate in infants as well as to decrease the chronic cough in adults by developing mAb therapy, SYN-005, which neutralizes the pertussis toxin.
The mAb development is the second of three infectious disease indications, Synthetic Biologics intends to carry out as part of its August 2012 collaboration with Intrexon.
As part of further development, Synthetic Biologics has also entered into an agreement with The University of Texas, Austin, to license the rights to certain research and pending patents related to pertussis antibodies.
Synthetic Biologics chief executive officer Jeffrey Riley said the company is pleased to begin work on a mAb therapy to treat pertussis with Intrexon, as well as with the experts like Jennifer Maynard, at The University of Texas at Austin.
"A steady increase in outbreaks of pertussis has become a serious threat to some of the most vulnerable members of our society, especially infants, and to individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccine failed to provide lasting immunity."
In August 2012, Synthetic Biologics had signed a worldwide exclusive channel collaboration with Intrexon to develop and commercialize mAb therapies to treat certain infectious diseases, using Intrexon's suite of proprietary technologies, including the mAbLogix and LEAP platforms.
SYN-005 will be developed to neutralize the pertussis toxin and reverse the course of the disease, according to Synthetic Biologics.
