APD Life Sciences, formed in 2003 as a successor to BioPore, Inc. - itself an active SBIR Awardee engages business approach that is grounded in development of technology(ies) to the level at which it can be licensed out to others. Initial products dealt with fertility enhancement in human and commodity animals and blood cell storage have been transferred to partners focused on later stage development. Results of two SBIR-supported projects await transfer to such partners. Project 1: A disposable detector component was developed for non-invasive spectroscopic analysis of sealed containers/systems. Potential industry applications include biomanufacturing, food safety, bio-defense and public health. Using fluorescent bio-indicators, this detector is easily integrated into existing systems for assessment of internal pH, oxygen tension and microbial contamination; additional applications under development. Design advantages include: no need to open container to sample contents; capacity for either on-site or robotic interrogation; direct electronic link to data repository; "instant" availability of test results; and fully-loaded cost of 10-15% of competitive methods. A lab-scale prototype and representative data are complete and available for examination. We seek to sublicence manufacturing, marketing and sales for specific fields-of-use [e.g., food safety and spoilage; biomanufacturing], and can work with licensee to optimize additional prototypes and protocols. Project 2: A novel and general approach to enhancing clinical and research analyses was developed, based upon recombinant proteins with ultra-high affinities for serum albumin and other major serum components. Virtually all current clinical analyses, home diagnostic kits, and developing approaches using multiplexing and proteomic readouts are limited by one-or-more of these features: (a) insufficient sample for all needed tests; (b) inappropriate sensitivity; and/or (c) difficulties in standardization across vendors and laboratories. These limits are an unavoidable downside of the most popular approach to assay design; use of antibodies which are limited by the affinity for antigen. The firm's approach is to retain the advantages of the current methods while addressing virtually all of its problems. Five products, based upon affinities for albumin or IgG were developed using a silica-bead-based, spin-tube format and are in sales. Additional binding proteins relevant to other important serum components are in development. When successfully implemented, an enhanced method for assessing both new clinical paradigms [such as use of biotherapeutics] as well as improving more traditional diagnostic techniques will be attained.
