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news.Oragenics has increased production of target compound MU1140 by fermentation as part of its exclusive channel collaboration (ECC) with Intrexon.
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Production of MU1140 using fermentation has also lead to the discovery of a new purification process for the product, according to Oragenics.
Lantibiotic MU1140 is intended to be active against all Gram-positive pathogens including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Clostridium difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as multi-drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Oragenics chief executive officer John Bonfiglio said the ability to manufacture MU1140 by fermentation was originally thought not to be commercially feasible due to low titers and difficulties in purification.
"The Oragenics-Intrexon ECC clearly shows that the application of specific expertise in these areas represents a breakthrough by developing a potentially viable commercial process for these important anti-infective agents," Bonfiglio added.
In addition to the optimization of fermentation and purification strategies, the partnership is working to leverage Intrexon’s genetic and cell engineering expertise to produce analogs of MU1140 and a pipeline of new lantibiotics.