Large Scale Biology, Bayer CropScience Announce R&D Agreement

Large Scale Biology (LSBC) and Bayer CropScience have entered into a collaborative R&D agreement to investigate the plant-based expression of lysosomal acid lipase (LAL), an LSBC-proprietary pharmaceutical product for important orphan and possibly other diseases.

The parties agreed to keep the terms of the agreement confidential. The R&D project centers on the utilization of LSBC's patented gene expression and biomanufacturing resources and promising preclinical results with LAL and Bayer's plant science and product development experience, with the ultimate goal of developing and eventually commercializing a new therapeutic product.

LSBC currently biomanufactures its own and client-specified therapeutic proteins and vaccines, and has a pipeline of products in development aimed at various markets, including cardiovascular, oncology and orphan diseases.