Oragenics, a provider of oral care probiotics and a developer of therapeutic products, and Intrexon Corporation, a synthetic biology company, have formed a global exclusive channel collaboration through which Oragenics intends to develop and commercialize lantibiotics.
Lantibiotics is a novel class of broad spectrum antibiotics, as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for the treatment of infectious diseases in humans and companion animals.
Oragenics president and chief executive officer John Bonfiglio said, "Intrexon’s state-of-the-art science will allow us access to new techniques and processes which could rapidly allow us to move toward commercialization of this exciting and novel class of antibiotics."
Intrexon CEO and chairman of the Board Randal Kirk said, "As was the case with our recombinant human alpha 1-antitrypsin (rHuA1AT) project, the production of lantibiotics through bioindustrial process has been a high-value goal that we now take on with confidence and commitment."
Under the collaboration, Oragenics will develop and produce lantibiotics by utilising Intrexon’s advanced transgene and cell engineering platforms.
Lantibiotics have shown broad-spectrum antibiotic properties against Gram-positive bacterial infections, such as MRSA and VRE in pre-clinical studies.
Intrexon will be responsible for technology discovery efforts, cell-engineering development, and certain aspects of the manufacturing process, while Oragenics will carry out preclinical and clinical development of candidate lantibiotics.
Under terms of the transaction agreements, Oragenics will receive an exclusive, worldwide license to utilize the products of Intrexon’s modular genetic engineering platform for the development of lantibiotics.
Oragenics will fund the anticipated development of lantibiotics toward the goal of commercialization, and will pay Intrexon 25% of the gross quarterly profits derived from the sale of products developed from the channel collaboration.