Amgen – a popular biotech firm that collaborates with the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design (IPD). Amgen considers investing funds to develop three research projects at the initial stage.

Both the partners revealed the development news on June 20. The partnership objective is to implement various projects, test new technologies, and develop protein-based techniques that can be used to research new drugs.

University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design is changing its science field by developing custom-designed proteins from the base so as to enhance human health.

The agreement did not disclose more specific details of funding, although stated, Amgen has offered an initial amount for 3 subsidized research projects. Amgen refused to reveal the financial details of the agreement or the research projects. However, the goal of the deal is to improve cancer drugs group named ‘BiTE antibodies’ so that they can aim at more types of cancer tumors.

The three sponsored research projects intend to use ‘de novo design technique’ of IPD to expand the regular protein-based medicines flexibility. It consists of maximizing Amgen’s repertoire of BiTE (bispecific T cell engager) antibodies, of increasing the tumor kinds that could be aimed at these molecules.

Experts of IPD will support Amgen to create antibodies against most difficult drug targets and design new approaches to modify the immune system to combat diseases.

The Henrietta and Aubrey Davis Endowed Professor of Biochemistry working at the University of Washington School of Medicine, founder, and director of IPD, David Baker said:

we’re at a technology transition point from modifying what exists in nature, which has been the traditional approach to protein engineering, to using first principles to build proteins from scratch to have exactly the properties you want.

Baker further stated, now we can together create proteins that include unique functions, and here our actual work begins connecting to medicines, and we are delighted to work with our partner Amgen.

Chief Strategy and Operations Officer working at IPD, Lance Stewart stated:

All of these projects have one thing in common, which is de novo protein design- the development of proteins that didn’t exist in nature but could be potentially very useful in combination with more traditional biologics like antibodies or newer biologics like these BiTEs.

One of the most difficult tasks of creating cancer-targeting immunotherapy medicines is to design them specifically to differentiate strong and healthy cells from cancer effect one.  The only belief is that proteins developed from the beginning – the institute’s raison deter – could make medicines to be more targeted.

Global Research Senior Vice President of Amgen, Raymond Deshaies said, we seek to work with the University of Washington’s IPD in a particular way-open minded and try to resolve some of the issues faced while developing strong medicines. This is a long-term collaboration and includes various projects. We also intend to build a powerful working relationship with scientists on both sides. The goal of this partnership is not only to resolve a few issues but to build a technique that can be applied within a large array of issues.