BIOSIMILARS. University of Cadiz and Curaxys sign a Long Term Research Agreement

Nov. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- Researches of the UCA will collaborate with the biopharmaceutical company Curaxys to develop therapeutic proteins for cancer treatment.
The Chancellor of the University, Dr. Diego Sales and Dr. Manuel Esteban Chief Executive Officer of Curaxys have signed a Framework Research Agreement (FRA). The sign ceremony was attended by General Manager of Bahia Competitiva (BC); Antonio Perales, the Vice-chancellor of Research and Development activities: Dr Francisco Antonio Macias and the General Manager of UCA: Dr. José Manuel Gomez.
Curaxys is a biopharmaceutical company located on the Technological Park Tecnobahia devoted to the research, development, production and commercialization of medicines and services in the biopharmaceuticals field.
A multidisciplinary team from the UCA will be researching in four biotechnological lines and molecular biology, on mammalian cell, virus, insect cell and bacteria involving four research groups of the Faculties of Health Science, Marine Science among others.
The Chancellor explained that this initiative is supported by the Plan de Accion de Bahia Competitive (BC). The target is to encourage the development of high technology industries into the Cadiz Bay Area.
The Chancellor said that the initiatives of research activities will be carried out in the Cathedra Curaxys and complemented with training activities, those are “according to our policy because in two years time we wanted to be ready the new University Degree on Biotechnology”
Curaxys is a company that will be the starting point “for a strategic business and the future of Cadiz´s Bay” Mr. Perales remarked and said that the Andalucia Autonomous Government is deciding to collaborate with Curaxys, through the Innovation, Science, Enterprise and Health Authorities Councils.
The Chancellor and the General Manager of BC mentioned the excellent background of the promoter, Dr. Manuel Esteban, Chemist and Doctor in Pharmacology, which was defined as a researcher in the front line of the biopharmacy with a proven background in the international pharmaceutical field.
Dr. Esteban thanks the UCA`s support, because the agreement “has been possible  due to  a excellent research infrastructures and humans resources available for Curaxys”. Dr. Esteban said that Curaxys should be a seeding company for futur start up high-tech companies on biotechnology and pharmacy according to the “relevant rule of Andalucia into the Spanish pharmaceutical consumption, being is the first pharmaceutical market of Spain and unbalanced with the reduced number of pharmaceuticals companies located on the Region”.
Latter, the vice-chancellor, Dr. Macias mentioned that despite to the project has been created by a gaditaniam in his town; the project has a remarkable international projection and market.
*Biosimilars Definition: Biosimilars or Follow-on biologics are terms used to describe officially approved new versions of innovator biopharmaceutical products: as recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, etc.

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Curaxys is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the research, development and production of biosimilar drug. The particularity of Curaxys has been the pioneer in the use of insect cell in the production of biosimilars drug. In fact, up to now the insect cell culture platform has been used for the vaccine production, and never for other therapeutical proteins. Curaxys is also developing new techcnological platform based in other expression system as bacteria, virus and yeast. The company is developing the recombinants proteins: Insulin, Growth Hormone, Erythropoietin, Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor ( GCSF) and the Monoclonal Antibodies(Mab) as : Rituximab, Trastuzumab. The company is located the Technological Park of Puerto de Santa Maria, in Cadiz (Spain). Other therapeutical proteins are under development as the unspecific antibodies.