Peptide Trends September 2015

September 30, 2015

Meet us the Annual Boulder Peptide Symposium

The Annual Boulder Peptide Symposium is a unique forum for professionals from pharma, biotech and academia to meet and discuss key challenges in peptide therapeutics. The Symposium draws key scientific decision makers and C-level personnel to learn about new developments and share cases studies in peptide science. The symposium also features a Peptide Showcase which draws many startup and emerging companies interested in presenting to large pharma.

It is our pleasure to inform you that we will be attending the 9th annual Boulder Peptide Symposium, which will take place September 28 – Oct 1, 2015, at booth #3 at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa in Boulder, CO. We would like to meet with you to discuss how Bachem can help you with your peptide API custom manufacturing needs.

Bachem‘s pipeline contains more than 150 customer projects in preclinical and clinical phases. They all have promising potential: in the last two years, a number of products in phase III trials received marketing authorization and phase II projects progressed to pivotal phase III clinical trials. Some of our services include pegylated peptides, lipidated peptides, various other peptide conjugates, and sterile fill and finish (Clinalfa®).

A new service in our portfolio is the selective chemical glycosylation. The technology is applicable to large scale and has the potential to be applied to a variety of peptides, where we can pioneer the concept of improving current and future drugs using this technology.

As the Industry leader and pioneering partner, we promise to meet the expectations of our customers. We would be glad to arrange a meeting with you at Boulder Peptide Symposium.

To schedule a personal meeting in advance please contact us: marketing@bachem.com

Featured Lab: BioNanomaterials research group

Who we are 

The BioNanomaterials research group is co-led by Professor Alke Fink and Professor Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser. Prof. Fink is responsible for the materials science aspect of the group and Prof. Rothen-Rutishauser for the biological studies. This situation is a fresh, novel, and exciting scientific research perspective in an academic setting, enabling the unification of two different scientific backgrounds in order to make a truly strong interdisciplinary research group. Dr. Dimitri Vanhecke leads the microscopy projects in the group. The interdisciplinary nature within the BioNanomaterials research group with 25 members is further expressed by the varying scientific backgrounds including chemistry and biochemistry, biology, pharmacy, biomedicine, materials science, and physics. 

Research activities

The research group’s activities stretch over many fields from material synthesis, i.e. nanoparticles, and characterization to biological responses and risk assessment (Petri-Fink and Rothen-Rutishauser, 2012). With the increasing production of engineered nanoparticles on a global level, it is crucial that their interaction with biological systems such as single cells is fundamentally understood and, also when thinking about potential biomedical applications of nanocarriers.

Some examples

Different surface modifications of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) result in different levels of cell-associated AuNPs in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC). NP coated with a polyethylglycol-COOH (PEG-COOH) chain obtains a negative surface charge and showed the lowest uptake in comparison to other (neutral or positively charged) particles. However, uptake of the positively charged polymer coated AuNPs cannot be explained by the surface charge alone. The lower internalization of PEG-COOH particles may be a convolution of charge and effects of the PEG polymer (Fytianos et al. Nanomedicine 2015). 

In another study, rhodamine-labeled cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) isolated from cotton were found to display, besides a concentration dependence, a length-depending uptake in a 3D model of the human lung tissue. A key advantage of this study was the visualization of CNC-cell interactions on a micrometer scale via surface-attached fluorophores and fluorescence imaging by laser scanning microscopy (Endes et al. Biomacromolecules 2015), therefore the old adage “Seeing is believing” still hold true.

The HIV1-tat project

In an uptake study of the engineered HIV-1 sequence tat which was done in collaboration with Solvias AG we employed a similar approach. The protein sequence was attached to a 5-FAM fluorochrome (green in figure 1 and 2) and exposed to macrophages in vitro (the mouse J774.1 cell line). The cells were counterstained with phalloidin-rhodamin (to elucidate the actin cytoskeleton, in red) and DAPI, a nuclear stain (blue).

Figure 1 shows a laser scanning microscope data set of a macrophage in the process of engulfing HIV1 tat proteins. The green signals, coding for tat sequences are clearly visible and resemble in size and form endosomal vesicles. By comparing the orthogonal views XY (top left), XZ (bottom) and YZ (right) it can be observed that not all tat-material is taken up yet.

Figure 1:  Three orthogonal optical sections (XY, topleft; XZ, bottom; YZ, left) of a data set acquired by laser scanning microscopy. Green signal originates from the 5-FAM label connected to the HIV1 tat sequence, red is phalloidin-rhodamin staining of the cytoskeleton and blue is the nucleus, stained by DAPI. Scalebar = 5 mm

 

This data can be rendered in 3D to achieve a more global view on the scene (figure 2). 

Figure 2. Ray tracing Rendering of the same dataset

 

 

References:

Endes C, Mueller S, Kinnear C, Vanhecke D, Foster JE, Petri-Fink A, Weder C, Clift MJD, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Fate of cellulose nanocrystal aerosols deposited on the lung cell surface in vitro. Biomacromolecules 16(4):1267-75 (2015).

Fytianos K, Rodriguez-Lorenzo L, Clift MJD, Blank F, Vanhecke D, von Garnier Ch, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Uptake efficiency of surface modified gold nanoparticles does not correlate with functional changes and cytokine secretion in human dendritic cells in vitro. Nanomedicine: NBM 11(3):633-44 (2015).

Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Nanoparticles and cells: an interdisciplinary approach. Chimia (Aarau). 66(3):104-9 (2012).

CPP-drug conjugates in clinical trials

Research and clinical studies on the transport and delivery of therapeutics into cellular targets using cell-penetrating peptides has been progressing well in recent years. Several companies started working on clinical development of CPPs, for topical and systemic administration of different therapeutic molecules. The first CPP clinical trial was initiated by Cellgate Inc. for topical delivery of cyclosporine linked to polyarginine (CGC1072) and entered phase II trials in 2003 for the treatment of psoriasis. This is an example of local application of a CPP-drug conjugate (local CPP-mediated delivery). However, despite an efficient uptake of the chimera, the release of the free drug was not rapid enough to compete with clearance. A list of different CPP-based drugs which entered clinical trial is shown in Table 2.

The therapeutic 28-amino acid cell-penetrating peptide p28 is derived from azurin, a redox protein secreted from the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, produces a post-translational increase in p53 by inhibiting its ubiquitination in cancerous cells. In few of these cases therapeutic agents are covalently linked either directly or through a linker to the CPP carrier. In KAI-9803, KAI-1678 and KAI-1455, the cargo peptide is attached to Tat peptide via a disulfide bond between additional cysteines at the N-termini of both entities. The cargo peptides SFNSYELGSL and EAVSLKPTC are δ protein kinase C (δPKC) and ε protein kinase C (εPKC) specific inhibitors, respectively and HDAPIGYD is a εPKC activator peptide. DTS-108 is a Vectocell® peptide-SN38 prodrug generated by esterification of the 10-hydroxyl group of SN38 to a hetero-bifunctional cross-linker (BCH) linked to Vectocell® peptide DPV1047 (CVKRGLKLRH VRPRVTRMDV).

A review on two cell-permeable Peptides

Chimeric Rabies Virus Glycoprotein Fragment (RVG-9R)

Article by Archana Gangakhedkar, American Peptide Company (A member of the Bachem Group)

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses like West Nile (WN), Japanese B encephalitis (JE) and Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) can be fatal, with up to 30% of mortality, and can cause permanent neurological disabilities in the survivors. With steady increase in number of infections in USA they have been categorized as category-B bioterrorism agents with no effective treatment.

There has been elevated interest in emerging new technologies to combat these infections through RNAi-(Ribo Nucleic Acid interference). The RNAi technology seems to be promising and can effectively deal with these dreadful infections. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have the capacity to target a broad spectrum of fatal viral infections that have no treatment. However, poor cellular uptake and short serum half-life are major limitations to effectively use them to cure these diseases.

RVG-9R is a small cell-permeable peptide, a fragment of rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) fused to cationic nonaarginine. The neurotropic protein RVG crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB) to infect the brain cells. The chimieric peptide RVG-9R containing an RVG fragment has retained this ability and thus can transport SiRNA molecules into the central nervous system (CNS), into neuronal cells and macrophages.

Researchers at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas, USA and the Naval Research Center USA developed five different siRNAs that inhibit both WN and SLE. These groups have been able to deliver siRNA to dendritic cells and macrophages when attached to RVG-9R peptide. Experimental data showed reduced neuronal apoptosis after IV administration of RVG-9R-conjugated siRNA to mice. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α production in macrophages in blood as well as in microglia in the brain was reduced. Manjunath and coworkers at Texas Tech University have demonstrated that the 29-mer short peptide derived from rabies virus glycoprotein allows transvascular delivery of siRNA to the CNS crossing the BBB. It was noticed that repeated administration of RVG-9R did not induce any anti-peptide antibodies nor inflammatory cytokines which makes RVG-9R a safe noninvasive tool to deliver siRNA. Investigations are ongoing to deliver siRNA using RVG-9R peptide for the treatment of arthritis.

 

Product details on RVG-9R here

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References:

P. Kumar et al., Transvascular delivery of small interfering RNA to the central nervous system, Nature 448, 39-43 (2007)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=17572664

C. Ye et al., Silencing early viral replication in macrophages and dendritic cells effectively suppresses flavivirus encephalitis, PLoS ONE 6, e17889 (2011)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=21423625

C. Ye et al., Silencing TNF-alpha in macrophages and dendritic cells for arthritis treatment, Scand. J. Rheumatol. 42, 266-269 (2013)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=23582054

Hel 13-5

Article by Archana Gangakhedkar, American Peptide Company (A member of the Bachem Group)

One of the major problems encountered in cell biology is the efficient transport of biomolecules across the membranes into the cells. Some of these biomolecules have to be conjugated to carrier molecules as cell-permeable peptides in order to deliver them into the intact cells.

Cell-permeable peptides or cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are small peptide domains that can easily cross the membrane barriers and have proven to be efficient intracellular delivery system in recent years. Several peptide domains that can efficiently transport cargos as proteins or DNA across biological membranes have been identified. Most amino acids found in these peptides are either positively charged or hydrophobic which makes their sequences amphiphilic. The octadecapeptide Hel 13-5, also called pulmonary surfactant model peptide, is such a CPP. Hel 13-5, KLLKLLLKLWLKLLKLLL, contains leucine and lysine residues in the ratio of 13:5 and forms an α-helical structures once it binds to DNA. This peptide is used specifically to transfer particular genes into cells and for DNA transfection.

Hel 13-5 is internalized extremely well in HEL cells (Human erythroleukemia cell line). It is very efficient in delivering DNA: Hel 13-5 forms stable aggregates with DNA, so a covalent bond is not required for delivering it into cells. Aggregate formation with its carrier also protects the DNA molecule from degradation. The hydrophobic regions of the CPP play an important role in the disruption of endosomal membranes. They also help to prevent DNA degradation and stabilize the α-helical structure. The multiple cationic sites of Hel 13-5 (five lysine residues) are a prerequisite for acting as a CPP.

Dissolved in buffers, Hel 13-5 peptide self-associates and adopts an amphipatic structure. It binds to biomembranes with even higher affinity. Researchers confirmed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) that Hel 13-5 transforms liposomes from spherical structure into twisted ribbon-like fibrils. The data reported by Lee et al. in J. Biol. Chem., 276, 41224 (2001) suggest that Hel 13-5 induces lipid-specific nanotubular structures. In aqueous solution, Hel 13-5 is mainly in α-helical form and monolayer state. The α-helix can be converted into a β-sheet by increasing surface pressure. This secondary structure is attributed to the formation of a surface- associated reservoir below the monolayer. This is a key function of pulmonary surfactants which is induced by an emptying of the fluid components in their monolayers. For this reason, Hel 13-5 is also used as a pulmonary surfactant model.

Product details on Hel 13-5 here

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References:

N. Ohmori et al., Importance of hydrophobic region in amphiphilic structures of alpha-helical peptides for their gene transfer-ability into cells, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 245, 259-265 (1998)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=9535819

S.Lee et al., De novo-designed peptide transforms Golgi-specific lipids into Golgi-like nanotubules, J. Biol. Chem. 276, 41224-41228 (2001)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=11406635

S.Pujals et al., Mechanistic aspects of CPP-mediated intracellular drug delivery: relevance of CPP self-assembly, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1758, 264-279 (2006)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=16545772

H. Nakahara et al., Surface pressure induced structural transitions of an amphiphilic peptide in pulmonary surfactant systems by an in situ PM-IRRAS study, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1828, 1205-1213 (2013)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=23321281

MEET BACHEM: Daniel Villiger

What is your official job title at Bachem?

Sales Manager Generics

 

How long have you been with Bachem? Where did you work before Bachem? 

I have been working now for Bachem since September 2014. Prior to my Bachem time, I was working for a distributor located in Basel, Switzerland as a Global Sales and Marketing Manager for Generic API.

 

Briefly, what do you do at Bachem? 

At Bachem, I take care of our Generic API customers in Northern Europe, Benelux, UK, Northern Africa and Middle Eastern countries. The job contains also travel activities to have the best support towards our customers and to identify new potential partners in the mentioned countries.

 

What is your academic background/degrees or training? 

I have a commercial education at the School of Economics in Basel (Switzerland).

 

What do you like to do outside of work (interests, hobbies)?

I like to play Tennis and before Handball (my active career is over). I also like to meet friends and travel around the world.

 

What makes a perfect day for you? 

A perfect day starts for me to watch the sunrise in my garden and drink a fresh orange juice. This gives me power for the whole day.

 

What is your business motto?

Always being flexible, positive, and creative in a dynamic, fast paced and changing environment.

 

What do you like most about your job?

The personal contact with our partners and customers in different countries and cultures. Even I worked for more than 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry, here at Bachem, almost every day I can learn new things and this motivates me day by day.

 

Thank you very much Daniel.

LITERATURE CITATIONS