A platform gene technology developed by UQ researchers and licensed by UniQuest to spin-off technology commercialisation company Coridon has led to a $5 million contract for the company.

The licensing of the technology, developed by UQ researchers Professor Ian Frazer and the late Dr Jian Zhou, has resulted in Coridon securing the first major contract for the development and commercialisation of products using the platform.

UniQuest helped Coridon secure a $5 million contract for the development and commercialisation of the first codon-usage product.

The technology provides the means for identifying and modifying the genetic codes used (codon usage) in particular cells in combining amino acids for the production of proteins.

Different cells use different codes to acquire the same amino acid.

Through understanding which codes are used in particular cell types, it is possible to regulate the expression of proteins in targeted cells without affecting surrounding cells.

The technology has a range of applications from the development of therapeutics for use in human and animal health; to improving cell-line protein yield for drug development; to enhanced plant and crop production.

As a part of the deal, the University, through UniQuest, obtained a research contract from Coridon that will see a significant portion of these funds flow to UQ's Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research (CICR) over the next two years.

The project gathered further support late last year when the Federal Government announced Coridon as one of the first recipients of a grant under its new Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF).

"We are extremely excited by the potential for this technology, and with the early securing of funds, we have the opportunity to deliver on some of this potential in the short term?, said Professor Ian Frazer, Director of the CICR.

"The contracts have allowed us to source three additional research staff as well as the other resources needed to ramp-up our codon-usage research."

CICR researchers aim to develop a product for use as a cure for squamous cell skin cancers. These researchers have discovered a protein that inhibits the production of a protein required by such skin cancers for growth.

By using codon-usage technology, the inhibitory protein can be applied with effect in the skin-cancer cells and not in the surrounding healthy cells.

This will lead to selective destruction of the cancer and should allow simple application of the therapeutic by way of an ointment to the affected area.

David Henderson, UniQuest?s Managing Director, said he was pleased UniQuest was able to help establish a pathway to market for the leading technology.

"This is again an example of how we can make use of the start-up company and licensing routes to gain significant R & D and commercialisation funding needed to grow these technologies during their infancy," he said.

Research team

Dr Rhonda Perrimann
Dr Nick Saunders www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/saundersna.html
Liz Tomlinson
Anil Kaushal
Naomi Odorico

Funding
Confidential

Email
Ifrazer@medicine.pa.uq.edu.au
rperrimann@medicine.pa.uq.edu.au

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