Codomax

We are excited to announce that Codomax has been awarded a third Phase I STTR grant from the NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Our project, Designer Pichia Strains that Enable Difficult-to-Express Biologics Production by Addressing Limitations in Secretory Protein Expression, is a collaboration between Codomax (led by PI Dr. Shane Byrne) and The Johns Hopkins University (led by PI Prof. Stephen Fried). The Fried lab has developed mass spectrometry-based structural proteomics methods to characterize protein folding of secreted and intracellular proteins. Together Codomax and the Fried Lab will combine their respective strengths in omics, tRNA biology, Pichia strain engineering, and structural proteomics to engineer Pichia strains that improve assembly and folding of recombinant proteins. Efforts to increase biomanufacturing efficiency have largely focused on translational optimization to increase protein yields. However, some protein remain difficult-to-express not only due to challenges in mRNA translation, but also due to impaired polypeptide assembly and transport through the secretory pathway. While Pichia pastoris yeast remains a popular and effective biomanufacturing host organism, further strain improvements are needed to enable high-yielding production of difficult-to-express products. Here, we leverage the Epi-MAX platform's tRNA-centric strain engineering approach to engineer secretory pathway chaperones in Pichia to enable high yielding production of difficult-to-express biologics. These new Pichia strains will be engineered to leverage cellular stress response mechanisms and translational reprogramming to increase production efficiency of properly folded and efficiently translated secreted proteins. More information available at: https://lnkd.in/ePSxJVCi

Our team has recently expanded! Jae Ahn (left) joins us as a summer research intern from Cornell University and sponsored by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center ‘s Internship Challenge. E-Ming Rau (right) has joined the team as a full-time research scientist. We are excited to have Jae and E-Ming contribute their expertise to further develop our Epi-MAX platform to address inefficiencies in the biomanufacturing of difficult-to-express biologics and cellular agriculture proteins.

We attended the RNA Therapeutics Symposium hosted by the UMass Chan Medical School’s RNA Therapeutics Institute this week. Shane Byrne presented a poster showcasing how our Epi-MAX Platform technology leverages tRNA reprogramming to engineer cells for efficient biologics production and mRNAs for enhanced tissue-specific expression. Our platform technology has the potential to unlock cells’ potential for achieving high yielding expression of difficult-to-express proteins and therapeutic mRNAs.

We are pleased to announce that Codomax has been awarded a second Phase I STTR grant from the NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Our project, Optimizing Antibody Production in CHO Cells Using Epi-MAX Technology to Increase Heavy and Light Chain Expression, is a collaboration between Codomax (led by PI Dr. Shane Byrne) and the State University of New York, University at Albany (led by PIs Prof. Thomas Begley and Prof. Susan Sharfstein). The Sharfstein lab has extensively characterized shifts in cell physiology in high vs low expressing clones, including available levels of a transcription factor driving antibody production. Here, we will leverage the Epi-MAX platform to use a tRNA-centric engineering approach to boost expression of a monoclonal antibody biologic in response to changing physiologies and stressors during antibody production. This project addresses bottlenecks in antibody biomanufacturing from CHO cells by developing a CHO cell line engineering approach that is capable of producing boosted antibody titers. More information available at: https://lnkd.in/e2GWqiXa

It was an honor for our co-founders Joseph Reddy (CEO) and Shane Byrne (CSO) to participate in Lonza's Innovation Day and share the work that we are doing at Codomax. Shane presented a talk titled "Enabling Difficult-to-Express Biologics Production with the Epi-MAX Platform Technology". Our team looks forward to potential collaborations with Lonza to achieve sustainable and efficient biomanufacturing of challenging biologics that are accessible and affordable to all.

We're #hiring a new Research Scientist in Worcester, Massachusetts. Apply today if you are interested in being a part of a team developing a novel biomanufacturing platform technology. #biotech #startup

We are excited to have opened up our lab at MBI in Worcester,MA! MBI shares our vision for enhancing biomanufacturing yields and reducing costs.