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Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services announced a significant breakthrough in developing a new enzyme for double strand oligonucleotide formation, collaborating with the University of Shizuoka. This new artificial RNA ligase shows higher thermostability and superior ligation activity compared to natural alternatives, achieving an 80% yield in synthesizing marketed siRNA drug substances, a significant increase from the 20% yield with the natural RNA ligase. This advancement enables environmentally friendly and efficient oligonucleotide synthesis, paving the way for mass production of high-purity nucleic acid drugs. These findings were published in the journal 'Applied and Environmental Microbiology.'
Ajinomoto Co. has signed a license agreement with Exelixis to utilize its AJICAP® bioconjugation and linker technologies in developing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs. This partnership aims to enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of cancer treatments. Ajinomoto will receive milestone payments and royalties from commercial sales. Exelixis, known for its focus on oncology, is set to advance multiple ADCs using AJICAP technology, which allows for easy conjugation of any therapeutic antibody without engineering needs. This collaboration promises to benefit cancer patients.