DPOLT™ Synthetic Chemistry Platform
Background. Differentially Protected Orthogonal Lantionine Technology (DPOLT™) is a solid phase peptide synthesis platform technology that has broad application for the cost-effective manufacture of a number of commercially important bioactive peptides. Lantibiotics, including our lead antibiotic, MU1140™, are a potentially important class of antibiotics. Many strains of medically important bacteria have become increasingly resistant to currently marketed antibiotics.
In May 2006, Oragenics announced that it had received a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant from the National Science Foundation. The funded research, which began in the third quarter of 2006, is focused on the production of specific lantibiotics of commercial interest. Prior to receiving the grant, the Company had already identified approximately two dozen bioactive peptides that would represent candidates for analog synthesis by DPOLT™ to potentially improve peptide stability or bioavailability. Oragenics has filed a U.S. patent application covering the intellectual property surrounding the DPOLT™ solid phase peptide synthesis platform technology.
Technical Background. Lantibiotics constitute a family of polycyclic peptides that are produced by bacteria, and are highly modified structurally. Thus far, attempts to study lantibiotics for their potential usefulness as therapeutic agents have been hindered by difficulties in producing sufficiently pure material, in amounts adequate for preclinical testing.
Regulatory Status. DPOLT™ is in the discovery stage and further scientific development remains before this platform technology will potentially offer a commercially viable manufacturing method for clinically important bioactive peptides. FDA approval will be necessary if Oragenics is successful in synthesizing an important peptide and decides to conduct clinical testing for its safety and effectiveness.
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