Protalix BioTherapeutics Inks Acetylcholinestrase Agreement

Protalix BioTherapeutics, an Israeli biopharmaceutical company, announced it has signed an agreement with the Yissum Research and Development Company, the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., to develop a proprietary plant cell-based acetylcholinestrase (AChE) and its molecular variants for the use in several therapeutic and prophylactic indications, including a biodefense program.

Under the agreement, Protalix has licensed the technology underlying acetylcholinestrase from Hebrew University and Boyce Thompson.

In vitro experiments have also shown that the AChE protein expressed in Protalix’s plant cell ProCellEx system demonstrates biological activity at both the biochemical and the cellular levels.

David Aviezer, president and CEO of Protalix, said the development program for Ache has potential in the biodefense and civilian pharmaceutical markets.