EnWave Corporation Announces Positive Monoclonal Antibody Dehydration Test Results Using freezeREV(TM) Technology
"This is an important result for EnWave as we continue to build a comparative profile of REV against freeze drying for biomaterials used in the pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors," stated Dr. Tim Durance, EnWave's Chairman and Co-CEO. "We have now demonstrated positive results for our freezeREV™, bioREV™, and powderREV™ technologies using a variety of biomaterials including bacteria, enzymes, antibodies and one virus that show the potential for significant reductions in pharmaceutical processing times and operating cost savings over lyophilization."
Produced by the human and animal lymphatic systems, antibodies are integral to the ability to fight infection and disease. Antibodies are also used for medical research and diagnostics, prenatal therapy, and treatment of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Although antibodies are not considered live organisms, dehydration can cause them to become inactive, and therefore ineffective for use in pharmaceutical and other products, by changing or "denaturing" their outer protein structure.
In September 2009, the Company announced that it had received positive results from preliminary dehydration tests conducted on three polyclonal antibodies obtained from animal sources, and the current test results are a significant additional finding because monoclonal antibodies are much more sensitive, and therefore prone to degradation during dehydration. Furthermore, the bulk of biotechnology research into the use of antibodies for medical therapy relies on monoclonal antibodies which, in liquid format, require shipment and storage at temperatures as low as -80 degrees C in order to maintain their bioactivity.
Samples produced for this study were generated by scientists at EnWave's Biomaterial laboratory. The University of British Columbia AbLab (Antibody lab) performed the analysis independently over the course of study. The laboratory employed a common method known as Fluorescence Activated Cell Scaning (FACS analysis) to evaluate the degree of structural change both post-dehydration and over the 12 month shelf-life where the dried proteins were kept at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C.
About EnWave
EnWave currently has five REV platforms designed to provide high-speed, high-quality dehydration of food and biomaterials: commercial-scale nutraREV™ is used in the food industry to dry fruits, vegetables, meat, herbs and seafood quickly and at low-cost, while maintaining high levels of nutrition, taste, texture and colour. The Company is also developing powderREV™ for the bulk dehydration of food cultures, probiotics and fine biochemicals such as enzymes; quantaREV™ for continuous, high-volume low-temperature drying of pastes, gels, liquids, or particulates; and bioREV™ and freezeREV™ as new methods to stabilize and dehydrate biopharmaceuticals such as vaccines and antibodies, giving these products a longer shelf-life and potentially enabling worldwide shipment and storage with less costly refrigeration. More information about EnWave is available at www.enwave.net.
EnWave Corporation
Dr. Tim Durance, Chairman & Co-CEO
Safe Harbour for Forward-Looking Information Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking information based on management's expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the Company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. There is no guarantee that the Company's REV technology can or will improve processes in the target industry; even if the Company's REV technology can be used as described in this document, there is no guarantee that such use will result in orders for the Company's REV technology. All figures comparing REV technologies to freeze drying or other dehydration technologies are provided as examples of data obtained through the Company's own scientific and testing programs; each product must be tested individually to determine the benefits of using REV.
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Contact:
Contacts:EnWave CorporationMr. Brent CharletonDirector of Marketing & Corporate Affairs(778) 378-9616bcharleton@enwave.netEnWave CorporationMr. John McNicolPresident & Co-CEO(604) 601-8524john.mcnicol@enwave.netwww.enwave.net