Replies to post #4298 on GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[DewDiligence]

Well said (eom).

[jessellivermore]

Clearly this is the important point. GTCB in addition to having the patents also has the choice of operating in areas where they have an unfair advantage. This is in the production of proteins which are difficult to produce in bulk using cell systems, eg plasma proteins. GTCB's entente cordial with LFB shows this is their intent.

Glycolisation paterns of TPP (transgenically produced proteins) are probably going to vary from their plasma derived cousins unpredictably (almost always the case at this level of complexity) The clinical differences will be studied and judged. This is pretty much the way of medicine.

[Pre_Clinical]

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GTCB did produce Mabs for Abbott and Elan in transgenic goats if my memory serves me correctly. I believe these were derived from cell line sources as well. It is not clear why these collaborations were not pursued further. A speculation would be that if a company has a CHO-cell line protein that works they would go with that platform as it is tried and true. This does not mean that it is better just easier for the company to implement with existing facilities and personnel. Also at the time of these collaborations GTCB had no approved product.
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I agree completely and have found that in my own personal experience as well. Ive seen several instances of companies building up huge CHO cell capacity and then searching for programs to fill the gap when their internal ones fail. If it wasnt something that expressed in CHO's, they werent interested.

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If GTCB/Abbott/Elan has such data comparing their goat derived Mabs with the cell line derived product I doubt that it would be made available. The purpose of these companies is not to get pubs in Nature Biotechnology but to produce profit from patented technology to their competitive (i.e. proprietary) advantage.
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I agree here... to a point. Of course the purpose is to produce profit, not merely publish. However, companies with groundbreaking new technologies can do themselves a huge favor by publishing in top quality, peer reviewed journals. It adds a lot of credibility. For example, Glycofi's papers describing their technology platform were flat out amazing research articles and went a long way to establishing credibility and a buzz for the company.


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In addition one of the foci of GTCB is to produce proteins that are difficult to express in cell systems. They may have to compete down the road if another company decides to produce the same protein in a cell line as they are in the goats. However if they choose wisely (and IMO they have) they won't be competing against CHO-cell derived proteins in the near term. There are plenty of targets in the plasma protein arena that require large quantities of material for therapeutic use that cannot be served by cell systems.
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Fair enough, but the company is putting a mAb into the clinic next year and placed a large emphasis on FOB's in their Venn diagram corporate strategy slide.