Pfizer licenses gene knockout tech
The ZFNs are being used by Pfizer in its work to permanently eliminate the Glutamine Synthetase (GS) gene from CHO cell lines, which the companies have been collaborating on.
Elimination of the GS gene has applications in the commercial production of recombinant protein pharmaceuticals and monoclonal antibodies. Pfizer has paid $3m upfront for a non-exclusive, worldwide license.
Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and CEO, said: "Our colleagues at Pfizer have made fundamental contributions to establish the breadth and utility of ZFNs in cell line engineering.
“Based upon our ability to design ZFNs to any gene, we believe that this is one of many future agreements we may establish, applying our ZFN technology in the commercial production of protein-based pharmaceuticals."
Sangamo claim that ZFNs offer significant advantages over older methods of gene disruption, including being quicker, more efficient and not being so prone to producing off-target effects.
The process does not require marker genes or the permanent insertion of foreign DNA and can be used to selectively and specifically eliminate numerous genes in a cell line.
By eliminating the gene the companies claim they can improve culture performance and the characteristics of the protein that is being manufactured.
Sangamo has worked with Pfizer to ensure that the process is compatible with suspension growth in serum-free and animal component-free synthetic media, making it suitable for use in commercial protein production.
