Toronto, Canada
March 13, 2002
A Canadian company may have found
the ideal solution to environmental concerns about genetically
modified field crops.
BioSecure Crops Inc. of
Toronto, recently acquired by FuzzyLogic Software Corp. (NASDAQ
OTCBB: FZZY), announced today that it has been contracted by
MPB Cologne GmbH to
test the feasibility of growing potato mini-tubers containing
pharmaceutical proteins (Industrial Tubers(TM)) in
contained-environment grow chambers.
A series of contained-environment grow chambers will be
constructed using the proprietary GroWmax(TM) technology to
establish production of mini-tubers supplied by MPB Cologne.
Upon completion of the nine-month feasibility study, BioSecure
will construct a production scale facility. The location of the
facility has not been finalized.
BioSecure Crops will assist MPB Cologne to address the worldwide
shortage of antibody manufacturing capacity created by the
successful entry into the market of therapeutic antibodies. The
worldwide therapeutic antibody market is expected to grow from
$3-billion U.S. in 2001 to $24-billion U.S. by 2010.
BioSecure Crops utilizes proprietary technologies to create
fully contained growing environments that maximize the output of
plant biomass and allow for completely controlled plant
production. Plant growing environments can be easily scaled from
research to commercial-sized production and can be built
anywhere regardless of location or season.
"I am very optimistic that the GroWmax(TM) technology will prove
to be the best fit for MPB Cologne's focus on biological safety
in plant-made pharmaceuticals," said Klaus During, President and
CEO of MPB Cologne. "It allows for maximum flexibility and
promises the highest efficiency in production of Industrial
Tubers(TM). Exclusive access to the GroWmax(TM) technology for
the growing of mini-tubers strengthens the competitive position
of both companies."
"We feel that MPB's Industrial Tuber(TM) fits well with
BioSecure's technology and will prove to be an excellent
platform for the commercial-scale production of a wide range of
recombinant proteins," said Doug Coyle, President, BioSecure
Crops Inc. "In our assessment, MPB-Cologne's work to date
developing the Industrial Tuber(TM) places it in a leadership
position in the industry."
MPB Cologne GmbH manufactures new proteins in Industrial
Tubers(TM) by using the potato as a plant bioreactor for
economical large-scale production. Customers from
pharmaceutical, biotechnological and chemical industries will
benefit from the comprehensive gene to protein approach of MPB
Cologne. MPB has successfully proved the functional equivalence
of a scFv antibody produced in Industrial Tubers(TM) in neurite
outgrowth from cultured neurons. Upon completion of its first
pilot scale productions by mid 2002, purified scFv antibodies
will be available in quantities of several tens of grams.
BioSecure Crops is a biotechnology infrastructure company
serving the rapidly growing plant-based recombinant
protein-manufacturing sector. BioSecure uses proprietary
GroWmax(TM) plant growing technology to economically maximize
biomass production in fully contained environments. Plants can
produce a wide range of high value proteins such as antibodies
and enzymes which can be used as vaccines or for a variety of
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
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