Darbo tikslas: pagaminti pusiau kietas vaisto formas su baikalinės kalpokės (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) ekstraktu ir atlikti jų biofarmacinį vertinimą. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Išvystyti ir validuoti metodiką baikalinės kalpokės ekstrakto veikliųjų junginių (baikalino, baikaleino ir vogonino) kokybinei ir kiekybinei analizei. 2. Pagaminti pusiau kietas vaisto formas (kremus, gelius ir gelifikuotus kremus) su baikalinės kalpokės ekstraktu ir atlikti jų biofarmacinį vertinimą. 3. Ištirti baikalinės kalpokės veikliųjų junginių atsipalaidavimą iš sumodeliuotų pusiau kietų vaisto formų tyrimais in vitro. Metodai: Ekstraktas analizuotas pritaikant fenolinių junginių ir flavonoidų nustatymą spektrofotometriniais metodais, spektrofotometrinį metodą laisvųjų DPPH• radikalų surišimo aktyvumui pagal troloksą nustatyti, efektyviosios skysčių chromatografijos metodiką biologiškai aktyviems junginiams – baikalinui, baikaleinui ir vogoninui – nustatyti kokybiškai ir kiekybiškai. Pusiau kietų vaisto formų gamyba: gelifikuotos sistemos gaminamos, naudojant karbomerą 980 kaip gelifikuojančią medžiagą ir įterpiant baikalinės kalpokės ekstraktą ištirpintą 30 % etanolyje; kremai gaminami naudojant skirtingus pagrindus, sudarytus iš polietileno ir vazelino aliejaus mišinys (PLW) ir iš hidrogenizuoto polideceno, polietileno ir tokoferolio mišinio (PLW PAO E), sumaišant ir homogenizuojant sistemas automatine maišykle; gelifikuoti kremai gaminami paruošiant dvi skirtingas fazes, kurios vėliau... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Objective of work: To prepare and analyze semisolid preparations with baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) extract and evaluate their quality. Main tasks: 1. To develop and validate a suitable method for main active compounds (baicalin, baicalein and wogonin) of baikal skullcaps extract quality and quantity analysis. 2. To formulate semisolid dosage forms (creams, gels and jellified creams) containing extract of baikal skullcap and evaluate their quality. 3. To determine the release of baikal skullcap active compounds in vitro, from designed semisolid dosage forms. Methods: The analysis of the extract is executed by using spectrophotometric methods for analysis of total flavonoids, total phenolic compounds measuring, DPPH• free radical scavenging activity measuring according to trolox and capillary HPLC. Formulation of semisolids: jellified systems are prepared using carbomer 980 as a jellifying agent and adding baikal skullcap extract which is dissolved in 30 % ethanol; creams are prepared by stirring and homogenizing with an unguator using different bases: a mixture of polyethylene and vaseline (PLW) and a mixture of polyalphaolefine, polyethylene and vitamin E (PLW PAO E); jellified creams are made from two different phases, later they are jellified with poloxamer 407. Quality of the systems is evaluated: by detecting viscosity, measuring pH values and by testing release of active compounds in vitro. Results: Total amount of flavonoids in ethanolic 30 %... [to full text]

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T14:17:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 2.pdf: 2275371 bytes, checksum: 0069b965e4de6a8233ddb51b3d97ba1b (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos/Farmanguinhos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Os testes de monitoramento ambiental representam importante ferramenta de verificação da qualidade do ar ambiente de áreas onde preparações estéreis são produzidas e controladas quanto a possíveis contaminações. Define-se riscos como potencial perigo de ocorrer um dano ao processo ou, em termos de saúde, reações adversas às pessoas expostas a ele. Descrever os perigos envolvidos no processo de monitoramento ambiental, a segurança na execução destes testes e a avaliação dos resultados obtidos pelos mesmos, seu controle e monitoramento, além de propor melhorias foi o objetivo principal desta dissertação. A ferramenta qualitativa HACCP foi escolhida, pois se aplica a todas as etapas de um processo baseada no prévio conhecimento do mesmo visando à prevenção de falhas. Todos os princípios da ferramenta HACCP foram aplicados ao Programa de Monitoramento Ambiental de uma indústria biofarmacêutica. O diagnóstico dos potenciais perigos que cercam o processo e seus impactos foi propiciado com a análise de riscos realizada. Com a análise de riscos do processo de monitoramento ambiental conclui-se que o mesmo é seguro, robusto, apresentando resultados confiáveis e compatíveis às condições reais do ambiente monitorado. / The environmental monitoring tests are an important tool for checking the quality of ambient air in areas where sterile preparations are produced and controlled for possible contamination. Risk is defined as a potential demage to the process or, in terms of health, adverse reactions to people exposed to it. Describing the hazards involved in the environmental monitoring, the safety in performing these tests and the evaluation of results obtained by them, their control and monitoring, and to propose improvements was the main goal of this dissertation. The HACCP qualitative tool was chosen because it applies to all stages of a process based on prior knowledge of it, preventing failures. All the principles of HACCP tool were applied to the Environmental Monitoring Program of the biopharmaceutical industry. The diagnosis of the potential dangers surrounding the process and its impact was facilitated with the risk analysis performed. With the risk analysis of the environmental monitoring process it was concluded that it is safe, robust, showing reliable results consistent with the real conditions of the monitored environment.

A permeabilidade através do epitélio intestinal tem se tornado um importante aspecto a ser determinado nas avaliações biofarmacotécnicas envolvendo fármacos e medicamentos. A técnica mais empregada para essa determinação in vitro é aquela que utiliza a cultura de células Caco-2. Entretanto, ainda são discutíveis as condições para a realização desses experimentos, uma vez que a padronização das mesmas é fator fundamental para a confiabilidade dos resultados. Nesta tese, foram avaliadas as condições para realização dos estudos de permeabilidade através de membranas de células Caco-2 para a rifampicina, principal fármaco utilizado no tratamento da tuberculose. Para tanto, foram investigados fatores tais como a citotoxicidade da rifampicina em diferentes concentrações, a influência da concentração do fármaco sobre a permeabilidade, do pH de realização dos experimentos e da presença de proteínas do muco intestinal, além da influência de proteínas plasmáticas. Foi também investigado o potencial indutor da rifampicina sobre a expressão da glicoproteína-P (Pgp) e seu impacto na permeabilidade da própria rifampicina. Os estudos foram desenvolvidos utilizando membranas de células Caco-2 provenientes da American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) cultivadas em placas Transwel®, a quantificação da fração permeada foi por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com métodos validados. A análise da indução da expressão da Pgp foi realizada por PCR-RT. Demonstrou-se que as concentrações da rifampicina (10,0; 25,0 e 50,0 µg/mL) não ocasionaram danos às células Caco-2 no estudo de citotoxicidade pela técnica que emprega o sal do brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetil-2-tiazoli)-2,5-difenil-2H-tetrazólio (MTT). As concentrações de rifampicina (5,0; 10,0 e 25,0 µg/mL) não resultaram em valores estatisticamente diferentes de permeabilidade aparente (Papp) em células Caco-2 nas condições do estudo. A rifampicina apresentou valor de Papp significativamente maior em pH 6,8 dentre os valores de pH avaliados (5,8 ; 6,8; 7,4). A presença de muco simulado e de soro fetal bovino não resultou em valores de permeabilidade significativamente distintos do resultado obtido sem a sua adição ao experimento. A expressão da Pgp em células Caco-2 é induzida pela adição da rifampicina (10µg/mL), ocasionando diminuição da sua permeabilidade por mecanismo de efluxo. Pelos resultados de permeabilidade obtidos em todas as condições avaliadas, a rifampicina pode ser considerada um fármaco de alta permeabilidade de acordo com o Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica. / The permeability through the intestinal epithelium has become an important aspect to be determined in evaluations involving drugs and pharmaceutical products. The most common technique for this determination in vitro is one that uses the culture of Caco-2 cells. Nevertheless, the conditions for carrying out such experiments are still questionable, since the standardization of them is essential to the reliability of the results. In this thesis, we evaluate the conditions for the studies of permeability of rifampicin through membranes of Caco-2 cells, the main drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis. To this end, we examined factors such as cytotoxicity of rifampicin at different concentrations, the influence of drug concentration on the permeability, as well as the pH of the experiments, the presence of proteins of intestinal mucus, and the influence of plasma proteins. It was also investigated the potential of rifampicin on the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and its impact on the permeability of rifampicin itself. The studies were developed using membranes of Caco-2 cells from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) grown on plates Transwel®, and the quantification of the fraction of drug permeated was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with validated methods. The analysis of induction of expression of Pgp was performed by RT-PCR. It was demonstrated that the concentrations of rifampicin (10,0; 25,0 and 50,0 µg/mL) did not cause damage to Caco-2 cells in the study of the cytotoxicity technique that uses a bromide salt of 3 - (4,5-dimethyl-2 - thiazol) -2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium (MTT). The concentrations of rifampicin (5,0; 10,0 and 25,0 &#181g/mL) did not result in statistically different values of apparent permeability (Papp) in Caco-2 cells under the conditions of the study. Rifampicin showed a value of Papp significantly higher at pH 6.8 in comparison with other measured pH values (5,8 and 7,4). The presence of mucus simulated and fetal calf serum did not result in permeability values significantly different from the result obtained without its addition to the experiment. The expression of P-gp in Caco-2 cells is induced by the addition of rifampicin (10 µg/ml), decreasing its permeability by efflux mechanism. Taking into account the results of permeability obtained in all conditions, the rifampicin can be considered a high permeability drug according to the biopharmaceutical classification system.

新藥開發是需要大量的資金投入，同時需要專業的技術實驗人才、以及具產業經驗的管理團隊，但是其所獲取的價值和領域也是相對較大的。生技製藥產業包括新藥、學名藥、中草藥、基因及蛋白質製劑、遠距醫療、預防醫學、醫療器材等。台灣在生技製藥已經投入許多資源，但是所獲得的成果並不如預期，主要原因除了缺乏像國際大廠的充足資金之外、且沒有完整的生技製藥產業鏈，更重要的是缺少了對生技製藥智慧財產管理的經驗、沒有國際行銷能力去取得市場。起因點則為台灣生技製藥公司仿照國際成功的生技製藥大廠模式，卻沒有自己的價值創造和創新模式，為了替台灣生技製藥廠商尋找新的利基和成功模式，本文分析了國內與國外的生技製藥公司，以尋找適合台灣的價值創造模式。 台灣生技製藥廠商主要缺乏的並非是技術，而是結合智慧財產的法律議題、並且發展出市場導向的生物技術研發模式。智慧財產相關議題在生技製藥產業更是最關鍵的因素，因為新藥研發動輒10年，而一般資金來源的銀行和創投都無法忍受所投資的公司必須要十年才可以獲利退出，因此透過不同臨床時期開發的新藥，其價值也會有顯著的不同，再透過技術移轉、授權和相關合約的簽訂，才能促使台灣中小型的生技製藥公司可以生存。本文要提出價值創造模型之前，必須要針對生技製藥產業的技術研發特性進行分析，接著必須透過智慧資本與財務會計的方式計算生技製藥產業無形資產的價值，最後透過個案中不同公司的營運策略，找出最適合現今生物製藥產業發展的模式。 生技產業需要相當多的資金去做新藥研發與市場行銷，這也是生技產業特殊的供應鏈上最重要的一環。因為，創投公司不只會投資金錢，它還會幫忙被投資公司尋找人才、市場、和策略發展。因此，本文第三個個案公司Burrill&Company為美國生技創投公司，最近幾年也可以看到它在大中華地區尋求投資機會。Apex International公司選對人才創造出優良品質的委託臨床試驗、和NexMed透過技術授權所產生平台技術，三家公司所創造的價值，去印證本文所提出的生技製藥產業價值創新模式的適用性。 論文研究結果顯示生技製藥產業最成功的關鍵因素至少有兩點，第一點就是核心能耐(Core Competence)的建立、第二點就是選擇對的人才。由本論文的價值創造模式中心出發，便是透過紮實的研究發展技能；建立優良的管理技巧以降低研發風險；透過創造新的技術和產品價值的核心能力建立，再選擇正確的人才組合，創造出外部的價值，最後達到整體價值創造的綜效。希望台灣不光只是擁有科技基本法與生技新藥產業發展條例等政策，而是可以透過本論文提出之價值創造模式，有效提升整體生技製藥產業的環境，以期產生更多成功的故事。 關鍵字：生技製藥、智慧財產、實體審查、無形資產鑑價、價值創造、技術移轉。 / Biopharmaceutical is driving force of the global healthcare economy transformation. In order for a biopharmaceutical company to gain value from a new drug during its clinical development, capital investment, professional talents, and management team with industrial experience are needed. Biopharmaceutical industry are included of new drugs, generic drugs, Chinese herbal medicine or traditional Chinese medicine, genetic and protein preparations, tele-medicine, preventive medicine, medical devices and so on. Taiwan has invested a lot of resources at biopharmaceutical fields but the results are not as expectation. The main reason is the lack of adequate funding from international big pharma, and the operation is no integrity of the value chain at biopharmaceutical industry. More importantly is the lack of management experience on Intellectual Property, and no marketing ability to access to the global technology supply and demand market. The key point is that they copy of the format of big pharma but lack the spirit of the creativity and innovation. I analyzed the three cases in the thesis and tried to find a niche and successful model for the value-adding on the Taiwan’s Biopharmaceutical industry. Taiwan does have the technology know-how, but most of the companies’ problems are the lack of market-oriented R&D model and the Intellectual Property issues. IP issues including management know-how related to biopharmaceutical industry are the most crucial factors. Most companies tends to spend ten years on developing a new drug. Most of the investment banking and venture capitals are hard to endure by the long-term exit mechanism. The value will be totally different if the investors can exit at various clinical stage of new drugs at various stages with the strategy of technology transfer and licensing agreement. Such business model can make Taiwan’s small and medium-sized biopharmaceutical companies easier to survive. To verify this value creation model, I analyzed the characteristics of the industrial research and development and calculate the value of intangible assets on the technology by the methodology of intellectual capital and financial accounting. Finally, I will identify the most suitable model by compared with the different business models in three representative cases. The biotech industry needs a lot of funding to do R&D and marketing of new drugs which is the most important on this special supply chain. Not only to invest money, venture capitalist should help the company to recruit the talent, target the market, plan and execute the strategy. Therefore, the third case is the U.S. venture capital firm called Burrill & Company. In recent years, it moved to the Great China region to seek the investment opportunities. Apex International recruit the right talents to the right position and create a great world class quality project on the clinical trial, and NexMed bring their value through the platform technology and technology licensing. All the cases are selected to examine the availability and suitability of the value creation model. At least two key successful factors for biopharmaceutical industry has been revealed by the research of the thesis study. The first one is the establishment of the core competence on the technology in their respective business, and the second one is the management know how in putting the right person on the correct position. Overall, the value creation model is build on a solid research and development skills, a great management know-how to reduce the risk, and the spirit of entrepreneurship to create the true innovative products or services. With all the core competences, we can integrate the team with multidisciplinary talents to expand the value with the outside resources, and give the synergy of the whole value-added model. Hope that with the recent enactment of the Basic Science and Technology law and New Pharmaceutical Development Act in Taiwan, more successful stories can be created by this value-added model discussed in this thesis.

近年來在相關產業與政府的努力及人才培育之下，我國許多生技研究已有初步的規模且可說是居於亞洲領先地位。然而，這些技術在商品化應用的階段卻一直沒有重大突破與發展，難以將研發成果的實質效益挹注到產業中。研發成果商品化的過程中，必須兼備技術面、法律面、財務面、管理面的考量，面面俱到才能將初萌的技術逐步發展為成熟的商品，進而在市場上獲取實質利潤，再將獲得的資源挹注於研發活動，形成良性循環。 研發成果商品化的策略視產業特性而截然不同，在「生技醫療產業」中，因其具有「受衛生主管機關高度管制」、「商業化認證需時」、「行銷國際化」的特性，在法規面的複雜度較高，且為專案成功與否的關鍵因素之一，進行商品化評估時必須熟悉相關醫藥法規，才能著手為專案發展做正確的規畫 ，極度仰賴「跨領域」、「高度技術」與「熟稔特殊商業技巧」的人才。依各國藥物法規的不同，商品化的開發時程也受此影響，生技製藥產業之技術及研發成果必須將為達到法規規範的要求而必須投入的時間、資金、人力等各項資源納入總體可行性評估之考量依據。。因法規具有地域性，本研究無法齊備全球各國，將以美國及台灣為研究主體，台灣的法規深受世界公認醫藥法規先進的美國影響，熟知美國的法規可以預估台灣法規機構的思路；且美國藥品市場佔全世界最大規模，此外，美國也極有可能成為潛在合作廠商之所在地，因此本研究將比較美國與台灣之醫藥法規，並評估在技術研發的過程中，衛生主管機關之要求對於技術商品化過程中所產生的影響。 明確、具科學性、可預期性的法規環境能降低製藥產業於研發過程中的不確定性，提高廠商投入的意願。衛生醫療政策及藥政管理政策直接影響到醫藥法規的訂立，政府制定的法規將引導產業發展的方向，對於藥品市場有極重要的影響。一個好的政策應該能夠與國家的總體背景相匹配，法規要求應與國家發展程度及國家內需市場成比例。台灣生技製藥產業目前的困境之一，就是國內廠商在開發新藥時，為了符合台灣衛生主管機關訂定的高標準法規必須投入更多的成本，但台灣卻沒有足夠的內需市場得以支撐，造成擁有豐厚資源的國外廠商可以將符合世界（十大先進國）高標準的藥品進入台灣市場，但國內廠商卻無法立足。為解決此困境，台灣廠商一定要設法將業務範圍擴大到外需市場，以獲取足以支持藥物發展所需的資金成本。因此，了解國內、外之藥物相關法規，做出能符合各國法規要求的產品，為踏出國際外銷市場的第一步；此外，各國的智財法以及與商業相關的法律，還有其之間的互相關聯，都是技術商品化是否能夠成功至為重要的關鍵因素。本文擬就藥物法規面為討論之主軸，其間輔以智財、商業相關構面，對生技製藥產業之技術商品化之過程做一探討。在本研究所選的個案—核子醫學藥物，是眾多創新產品的一種，如果能把握技術、智財、法規、法律、國際商業運作，很有可能為台灣的藥業打開另一片天。 / In recent years, we have already developed some achievements in biotech researches in Taiwan and are in a leading position in Asia under the efforts of government and industries. However, these technologies still are slowly developed to the commercialized phase. Thus, the achievement of these researches does not benefit industry substantially. In the process of commercialization of biotech research, we have to consider all the aspects, including technology and regulation, intellectual property, finance and management. With a well-rounded development plan, technologies in the bud will gradually develop to a mature commodity, and earn fiscal profit in the market. The profit will consequently contribute to research activity. A virtuous circle will be formed. The strategies of commercialization differ considerably among industries. Regarding biopharmaceutical industry which has the properties of highly regulated by competent authorities, time consuming, heavy capital, and global marketing, the regulation assessment is not only complicate but also critical to project implementation. The required documents according by regional authorities will be a decisive factor to consider the development plan including the estimated timetable, needed resources. Due to the regulation system in US affected a lot legislation for laws in Taiwan , America and Taiwan will be the prior topics in this research. A well-developed legal framework and protection of intellectual property rights is the prerequisite for building an ideal environment where the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries can flourish. In order to improve the environment for these industries, in recent years the government has approved the amendment and execution of related laws and regulations. Amendments have been made to related tax benefit and incentive measures of investment. Other amendments have been made which have allowed R&D results to be more easily transferred to academia and industry. Looking into the future, under the joint cooperation of industry, academia and research institutes, and with the government’s policy to fully promote the sector, it is believed that Taiwan will have well developed in the near future.

繼人體基因圖譜於2000年解碼後，基因解讀及研究初期均在競爭解讀基因序列(Gene sequences)，然而了解基因序列是一件事，如何從序列中來了解基因功能所賦予之生理生化意義，比如每段基因所產生之蛋白質產物、及蛋白質與細胞之間的相互關係等資訊，進而應用於藥物標的之尋找，才是未來生物醫學發展之主要方向。同理，藉由基因功能學(Functional Genomics)領域來研究新發現之基因的功能、基因表現、與蛋白質產物，進而辨識有用的藥物標的(Drug target)及尋找新的疾病治療方法，才是基因解讀後最主要之生技醫療市場。全球生物科技之應用中以醫療用的生技產品所帶來的產值最為可觀，佔總體生技產業約七成以上之產值，其中又以重組蛋白藥品、單株抗體、疫苗及檢驗試劑之研發為主要重心，其中行政院更在“加強生物技術產業推動方案”裡，特別將蛋白藥物、抗癌藥物開發及檢驗試劑等領域列為重點推動項目，國內外許多生物科技公司研發專長及主軸亦座落於全球最熱門的生技製藥發展脈絡上。目前由於許多癌症、代謝失常疾病、遺傳性疾病及自體免疫疾病等，臨床之治療藥物仍舊是付之闕如或是供不應求，其中特別是各種癌症以及自體免疫疾病，如類風濕性關節炎、多發性硬化症、牛皮癬及過敏等，都是生技醫藥開發非常重要之疾病研究領域。現今臨床上所常用的藥物，普遍有特異性不佳、副作用大的缺點，因此國內外許多生物科技公司正戮力於針對上述疾病類別找尋合適之生技藥物或是小分子藥物，已達到標的治療(Target therapy)為目的；然而在生技醫藥公司草創初期，大都以技術掛帥，且由於藥品開發時間冗長，因此鮮少有生技醫藥公司能於設立初期10年內有產品上市，因此導致初期營運風險居高不下，令投資者裹足不前，所以如何評估具有成長潛力之生技醫藥公司頗為困難，因此本論文擬從生技藥品著手，除了傳統從技術面、產品面、市場面、競爭者、人力資源、策略經營等構面著手分析成長中之生技醫藥公司外，由於生技醫藥產業之特殊屬性，所以更特別注重產業成長時針對生物倫理面的考量，以做為生技醫藥公司具成長潛力之指標之一。希望透過多元的評估分析，能夠歸納出生技醫藥公司的成功要素，並藉此分析能夠有系統的篩選出具成長性、具社會責任之生技醫藥公司，才能擘畫生技醫藥公司維持長期競爭力、獲得永續發展的遠景，並藉此做為投資者長期投資評估之參考依據。 / The completion of the human genome project is regarded as a turning point in biotechnology and medicine. This project is expected to produce sequence of DNA representing the functional blueprint and evolutionary history of the human species. As we entered the postgenomic era, what we faced is the explosion of new information, which is leading to dramatic changes in the way we are able to study and manipulation of life. At the first few years, many groups were competing in sequence decoding. However, the findings of the functions of genes and the interactions of different gene products are the main issues helping us exploit the new biotechnology markets. Through the research of functional genomics to explore the function, expression, and protein products of novel genes is helpful in identifying new drug targets and developing therapeutic strategies in treating various diseases. This is what we emphasized in biotech market after entering the postgenomic era. The most valuable branch of biotechnology industry is the medical products in global biotechnology market. The medical products take up to 70% of total sales in biotechnology markets. Among the medical biotechnology field, recombinant protein drugs, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and detection kits have been focused in pharmaceutical R&D investment. Executive yuan of the Republic of China decided to emphasized in protein drugs, anti-cancer drug development and detection kits in their “ The promotion plan of improving biotechnology industry”. Currently, the drugs against cancers, metabolic diseases, inherited diseases, and autoimmune diseases are still unavailable. Especially the drugs for various cancers, and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and allergy are under intensive investment in global biotechnology industry. This is because the drugs used today have the deficiencies including low specificity and adverse side effects. Thus, target therapy using monoclonal antibodies and small molecular drugs are the goals for worldwide biotech companies. However, the development in research has been considered as the most important thing in the starting stage of newly founded biotech companies and the long time needed for putting a new drug to market make very few biotech companies have salable products. Thus, the newly biotechnology company has been considered has high risk in the beginning stage. This makes investors to hesitate in putting their money in this field. To evaluate the potential of a new biotechnology companies is difficult since the complex of this industry. This study will try evaluating a newly founded biotechnology company not only through technology, product, market, competitors, human resources, strategies, but also from the consideration in bioethics. Hopefully, through the evaluation of multiple markers, we can conclude the essential factors for a successful company and screen out the company with high growing potential via this study. Finally, this study might serve as a reference for investors in evaluating a promising company for long-term investment.

A L-Asparaginase II de Escherichia coli (EcA II) é uma enzima amplamente utilizada no tratamento da Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA), atuando na depleção do aminoácido L-asparagina, o qual é fundamental para a multiplicação das células cancerosas. Contudo, o tratamento com a EcA II está associado a altos índices de hipersensibilidade, devido à formação de anticorpos anti-L-asparaginase e à clivagem da enzima pelas proteases sanguíneas asparagina endopeptidase (AEP) e catepsina B (CTSB). Também ocorre neurotoxicidade associada ao efeito L-glutaminase da enzima. O principal objetivo do presente trabalho é a obtenção de mutantes da EcA II (gene ansB) com equivalente eficiência catalítica, maior resistência à clivagem proteolítica e menor atividade glutaminase. Para este propósito, através da reação em cadeia da polimerase propensa a erro (epPCR) do gene ansB, foi construída uma biblioteca de 1128 clones expressos no vetor pET15b em BL21(DE3). Nenhum mutante com atividade asparaginásica equivalente à EcA II selvagem apresentou atividade glutaminásica inferior à esta. Dentre os clones triados obtivemos um mutante (T161I) resistente à clivagem proteolítica pela CTSB e dois mutantes (Q190L e P40S/S206C) resistentes à clivagem proteolítica por ambas AEP e CTSB. Estes três mutantes apresentaram atividade asparaginásica e glutaminásica equivalentes a EcA II selvagem. Nossos resultados mostram promissoras possibilidades de EcA II mutantes com maior estabilidade frente às proteases sanguíneas humanas e possivelmente menos imunogênicas. / Escherichia coli L-asparaginase (EcA II) is an enzyme widely used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acting in the depletion of the amino acid L-asparagine, which is essential for cancer cells proliferation. However, treatment with L-asparaginase is associated with a high rate of hypersensitivity, due to formation of anti-L-asparaginase antibody and the enzyme cleavage by the serum proteases asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) and cathepsin B (CTSB). Furthermore, the neurotoxicity is associated with the effect of the enzyme L-glutaminase activity. The main aim of the current work is to obtain variants of EcA II (gene ansB) with an equivalent catalytic efficiency, greater resistance to proteolytic cleavage and a reduced glutaminase activity. For such purpose, through error-prone polymerase chain reaction (epPCR) of gene ansB, a library of 1128 clones was constructed in pET15b vector and expressed in BL21(DE3). None mutant with an asparaginase activity equivalent to EcA II wild type showed a reduced glutaminase activity. Among the screened clones, one mutant (T161I) was resistant to CTSB proteolytic cleavage and two mutants (Q190L e P40S/S206C) were resistant to both CTSB and AEP proteolytic cleavages. These three mutants were EcA II wild type equivalents in asparaginase and glutaminase activities. Our data show promising new possibilities of mutant EcA II presenting higher stability against human serum proteolytic cleavage and maybe lower immunogenicity.

A L-Asparaginase II de Escherichia coli (EcA II) é uma enzima amplamente utilizada no tratamento da Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA), atuando na depleção do aminoácido L-asparagina, o qual é fundamental para a multiplicação das células cancerosas. Contudo, o tratamento com a EcA II está associado a altos índices de hipersensibilidade, devido à formação de anticorpos anti-L-asparaginase e à clivagem da enzima pelas proteases sanguíneas asparagina endopeptidase (AEP) e catepsina B (CTSB). Também ocorre neurotoxicidade associada ao efeito L-glutaminase da enzima. O principal objetivo do presente trabalho é a obtenção de mutantes da EcA II (gene ansB) com equivalente eficiência catalítica, maior resistência à clivagem proteolítica e menor atividade glutaminase. Para este propósito, através da reação em cadeia da polimerase propensa a erro (epPCR) do gene ansB, foi construída uma biblioteca de 1128 clones expressos no vetor pET15b em BL21(DE3). Nenhum mutante com atividade asparaginásica equivalente à EcA II selvagem apresentou atividade glutaminásica inferior à esta. Dentre os clones triados obtivemos um mutante (T161I) resistente à clivagem proteolítica pela CTSB e dois mutantes (Q190L e P40S/S206C) resistentes à clivagem proteolítica por ambas AEP e CTSB. Estes três mutantes apresentaram atividade asparaginásica e glutaminásica equivalentes a EcA II selvagem. Nossos resultados mostram promissoras possibilidades de EcA II mutantes com maior estabilidade frente às proteases sanguíneas humanas e possivelmente menos imunogênicas. / Escherichia coli L-asparaginase (EcA II) is an enzyme widely used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acting in the depletion of the amino acid L-asparagine, which is essential for cancer cells proliferation. However, treatment with L-asparaginase is associated with a high rate of hypersensitivity, due to formation of anti-L-asparaginase antibody and the enzyme cleavage by the serum proteases asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) and cathepsin B (CTSB). Furthermore, the neurotoxicity is associated with the effect of the enzyme L-glutaminase activity. The main aim of the current work is to obtain variants of EcA II (gene ansB) with an equivalent catalytic efficiency, greater resistance to proteolytic cleavage and a reduced glutaminase activity. For such purpose, through error-prone polymerase chain reaction (epPCR) of gene ansB, a library of 1128 clones was constructed in pET15b vector and expressed in BL21(DE3). None mutant with an asparaginase activity equivalent to EcA II wild type showed a reduced glutaminase activity. Among the screened clones, one mutant (T161I) was resistant to CTSB proteolytic cleavage and two mutants (Q190L e P40S/S206C) were resistant to both CTSB and AEP proteolytic cleavages. These three mutants were EcA II wild type equivalents in asparaginase and glutaminase activities. Our data show promising new possibilities of mutant EcA II presenting higher stability against human serum proteolytic cleavage and maybe lower immunogenicity.

During the last two decades, there have been a number of policy and legislative changes in respect of South Africa’s intellectual property (IP) and the national system of innovation (NSI). In 2012, a Ministerial Review of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) landscape in South Africa made recommendations to improve the STI landscape and effectively the national system of innovation. The study provides a critical review of drafts of the national IP policy published in 2013 as well as the IP Framework released in 2016 for public comment. The review of the IP and the NSI are within the context of the National Development Plan (NDP), which outlines South Africa’s desired developmental goals. South Africa is part of the BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The South African economy is characterised by a desire to move away from being dependent on resources and commodities, to becoming a more knowledge based and innovation driven economy. It is hoped that such a move would assist the country to address some of the social and economic development challenges facing South Africa, as captured in the NDP. South Africa has a functioning IP system, but its relationship with South Africa’s development trajectory is not established. More particularly, the extent to which the IP system relates to the innovation system and how these two systems must be aligned to enable South Africa to transition successfully from a country based on the production of primary resources and associated commodity-based industries to a viable knowledge-based economy is unclear. The Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) provides that IP must contribute to innovation and to transfer of technology and knowledge in a manner that is conducive to social and economic welfare. Certain provisions set out the foundations of intellectual property systems within the context of each member state. This study has thus explored the complex, complementary and sometimes contested relationships between IP and innovation, with particular emphasis on the potential of an intellectual property system to stimulate innovation and foster social and economic development. The study has also analysed the interconnectivity of IP and innovation with other WTO legal instruments, taking into account South Africa’s positioning within the globalised economy and in particular the BRICS group of countries. The research involved a critical review of South Africa’s IP and innovation policies, as well as relevant legislation, instruments, infrastructure, IP and innovation landscape, and relationship with international WTO legal instruments, in addition to its performance, given the developmental priorities and the globalised economy. The research documents patenting trends by South Africans using European Patent Office (EPO), Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), United States Patents and Trademarks Office (USPTO) databases over the period 1996-2015. A comparative analysis of patenting trends amongst BRICS group of countries has also been documented. The study also documents new findings, observations and insights regarding South Africa’s IP and innovation systems. Some of these, particularly in relation to higher education and research institutions, are directly attributable to the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act. More particularly, the public institutions are becoming relevant players in the NSI and are responsible for growth of certain technology clusters, in particular, biotechnology. At the same time, the study makes findings of a decline of private sector participation in patenting as well as R&D investment over the 20-year period. Recommendations are included regarding specific interventions to ensure coherence between the IP and innovation systems. Such coherence and alignment should strengthen the systems’ ability to stimulate innovation and foster inclusive development and competitiveness, which are relevant for addressing South Africa’s socio-economic development priorities. / Mercantile Law / LL. D.