October 15, 2014
Vancouver, BC – Mouse models of human disease continue to be a mainstay in biomedical translational research and therapeutic development, however existing technologies for quantitation of proteins in mouse plasma are difficult to use, slow, and expensive. As a result, there is a significant and growing unmet market desire for mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics technologies and research tools that can be used to quantify large panels of proteins in the mouse, one of the most widely used animal models of human disease.
Victoria-based MRM Proteomics (MRMP) and the UVic-Genome BC Proteomics Centre (PC) have been developing and commercializing human proteomics assay kits and services using MRMP’s disruptive and innovative PeptiQuant™ technology. A new research project, funded in part by Genome BC and Genome Canada, is set to develop and commercialize a novel set of much needed quantitative proteomics products and solutions for mouse models.
“We are developing a novel series of robust and highly sensitive quantitation tools that will offer unparalleled accuracy and specificity in mouse models,” says Christoph Borchers, Director of the Genome BC-UVic Proteomics Centre and professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria. “The high-quality kits for disease biomarker proteins will be delivered to customers complete with all necessary protocols, instrument settings, reagents, standards, and data analysis software.”
Each kit type will be adapted and optimized for use with instruments from multiple manufacturers to ensure maximum uptake.
“Whilst major pharmaceutical and biotech companies now fully recognize the significant advantages that proteomics can bring to new drug discovery and development, proteomics research has so far been limited by the lack of research tools to perform robust and reproducible quantitation of protein biomarkers, particularly from small sample volumes allowing for longitudinal monitoring of changes in protein expression from a single animal,” says Gary Kruppa, Chief Executive Officer at MRMP. “This research and kit production will change that.”
The market for mouse proteomics kits provides MRMP with significant opportunities not only to drive, develop and grow the market but also to capture a major share. The current global mouse proteomics kit market could be worth ~$90M ($45M in N. America). As MRMP does not currently have MS-assay kits specific to the mouse for in-house use, and very few other organizations offer these assay services, MRMP is well positioned to carve out a significant share of the market.
“By carving out its niche in both mouse and human proteomics, MRMP is poised to develop and grow into a significant mid-sized Canadian biotech company, “ says Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO of Genome BC. “This kind of pioneering work strengthens Canada’s position and competitiveness in biomedical research and proteomics while aiding global health-related discovery research and development.”
This research project, valued at $1,238,513, has been funded through the Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) as part of Genome Canada’s plan to fund downstream research and development projects that address real world challenges and opportunities as identified by industry, government, not-for-profits and other “Users” of genomics research. In addition to funding from Genome BC and Genome Canada investment into this research also comes from MRMP.
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