Liverpool’s 2Bio Technology Nominated for Asian Innovation Award
Liverpool’s highly successful UK-based bio-business consultancy 2Bio Ltd. is part of a team that has been shortlisted for the Wall Street Journal’s Asian Innovation Awards 2011.
2Bio provided expertise to the development of a new technology in Singapore that is set to revolutionise the way in which new drugs are discovered, drugs that will be used in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and obesity.
The invention comes from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) which is part of the internationally renowned A*STAR Institutes. 2Bio has been working with IMRE in Singapore to secure the intellectual property and create business plans to take this technology to the market. Researchers at IMRE have been able to make polymers that resemble human cell membranes, potentially allowing them to test the the effects of drugs more quickly and at lower cost.
The Asian Innovation Awards 2011, organised by the Wall Street Journal Asia, are committed to finding the next big ideas in Asia, from entirely new inventions to the advancement of a classic. Synthetic cell membranes invented by A*STAR’S IMRE may look and act like natural human cell membranes but they have more advantages. IMRE’s Dr Madhaven Nallani, who led the team of researchers explains: “IMRE's patented synthetic cell membranes can be made-to-order, are easier to maintain in a laboratory environment and do not require the lengthy preparation that comes with working on live cell membranes.
“The synthetic cell membranes mimic the natural functions of cell membranes, such as interacting with drug molecules and antibodies, which is crucial in the drug discovery process. The innovation also provides a more stable membrane model for a better understanding of the mechanisms of diseases that affect human cells.” Dr Madhavan Nallani researchers successfully used synthetic materials to mimic biological processes. "We have harnessed natural cellular processes to fabricate a simple yet functional system using engineered materials to mimic the cell membrane and its proteins," said Dr Nallani, the IMRE scientist who invented the synthetic cell membranes. "These artificial cell membranes allow researchers to study interactions between membrane proteins, drugs and other compounds without the hassle of using living materials.
Rhys Roberts, 2Bio's co-founder and director said: "We are very happy that our work has been recognised by this prestigious competition. We believe that artificial cell membranes have the potential to generate huge commercial value within the Life Sciences Sector. This is one of the most exciting technologies in our client portfolio and we are continuing to work with IMRE to deliver this technology to the Pharma Industry."
2Bio Ltd. provides in-depth analysis and strategy which is used by international clients to support the commercialisation of technology. Their expert team of consultants have been delivering bespoke reports since 2007, covering technology areas in Biotech, Healthtech, Chemistry, Engineering and Software. The company prides itself on taking a 'hands on' approach to commercialisation, directly supporting their clients through the process of IP identification and protection, through to commercial deals.
For further information on 2Bio visit www.2bio.co.uk
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