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World First: The Native Antigen Company succeeds in manufacturing all four DENV NS1 serotypes from human cell lines

Upper Heyford , UK, 1 October 2013. The Native Antigen Company (NAC), specialists in the R&D and scale up manufacturing of highly pure viral and bacterial native antigens, today announced a world first. The release of all 4 Dengue Virus NS1 serotypes from human cell lines.

All four DENV NS1 serotypes have been manufactured in response to the unmet need for highly purified, concentrated proteins for use in vaccine development and serological based diagnostic assays. To achieve this, the company has employed its novel VirTuETM platform which is based entirely on human cell lines using state-of-the-art expression techniques.

Dr Holger Hannemann, Lead Scientist at NAC said: “Our aim was to focus on NS1’s native hexameric presentation. The hexamer is believed to be the biologically active form of NS1 involved in key aspects of dengue pathogenesis. The resultant DENV NS1 proteins are purified to a high degree, are in their native folding state, and possess all post-translational modifications. This advanced approach results in a product which delivers optimal antigenicity due to its human origin.”

With more than one-third of the world’s population living in areas at risk of transmission, dengue infection is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics, as many as 100 million people are infected with the virus each year. Dengue is caused by any one of four related viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. There are currently no vaccines available which offer protection against dengue virus.

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About The Native Antigen Company

NAC specialises in the isolation and purification of native viral and bacterial antigens which are needed to provide the high levels of the specificity and sensitivity required by the latest generation of serology based IVD tests. It is also pioneering into the use of mammalian cell expression platforms, with an emphasis on producing antigens for use in vaccine development.

For more information, contact:

Email: contact@thenativeantigencompany.com

Tel: +44 (0)1869 238067

Fax: +44 (0)1869 238001

or visit:

www.thenativeantigencompany.com