World’s First Large Animal Platform to Produce Fully Human Antibodies

Is it not often that something genuinely novel comes along to completely transform an approach, a treatment, a complete perspective…and truly a world of possibility. It’s called a game changer. The new technology from SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. (SAB) is just that.

Dr. Eddie Sullivan, President and CEO of SAB and his team have developed the world’s first large animal platform to produce fully human antibodies. This novel technology has the ability to change the way diseases are treated and is unlike anything else. SAB is the only company in the world that is using a large animal, bovine platform to produce human antibodies.

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota based company is using the latest advances in gene engineering to produce new biopharmaceuticals that help fight disease. Once available, this technology has the potential to create antibodies to prevent and treat human conditions such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, and infectious diseases and quickly respond to emerging global health threats.

Ready for Clinical Trials in 2015

SAB’s research is expected to begin clinical trials in early 2015. Once given FDA approval, this technology could paint a bright new picture for patients, health officials and caregivers around the globe.

“The antibodies, both monoclonal and polyclonal, generated in this unique platform have been shown to have high diversity and high affinity compared to other systems, giving them a wider range of application and a shorter development cycle,” explains Sullivan. “Thus we’ve coined it the DiversitAb platform.”

How It Works

The platform originated in 1998 at a lab at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Since then, Sullivan and his team have been perfecting the proprietary technology to modify the natural immune systems of these animals so it precisely mimics that of a human’s.

The animals produce plasma-derived polyclonal human antibodies, and because they are born with fully human antibody genes, they don’t reject them. They also provide a large platform, which means their systems can produce a greater volume of highly targeted antibodies and they essentially become plasma donors to humans.

“The plasma then goes through a very technical and stringent purifying process to extract just the antibodies,” explains Sullivan. “It is these antibodies that could revolutionize the way patients with certain diseases are treated.”

History of Experience

Founded as Hematech, Inc., SAB later became a subsidiary of the Japanese company Kirin Pharma, which then merged with Kyowa Hakko Kogyo to form KHK.

In 2003, the company formed a joint venture with Trans Ova Genetics of Sioux Center, Iowa, to manage its animal needs and moved all research activity to Sioux Falls. The company was acquired by Sanford Frontiers in early 2013, and became Sanford Applied Biosciences, LLC.

BioDak, LLC, recently partnered with Sanford Frontiers to from SAB Biotherapeutics. Leadership from BioDak will help to shepherd the technology and lead the effort through the clinical stages and on to commercialization.

For more information go to sab.bio or stop by Booth #2819.

DiversitAb is a trademark of SAB Biotherapeautics.