Biacore signs agreement with Chinese institute to further SARS research

Swedish company Biacore International has signed a collaborative agreement with Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

This follows SIMM's successful use of Biacore's SPR (surface plasmon resonance) technology for the discovery of a series of compounds with potential inhibitive action against the SARS virus. The collaboration, assisted also by Amersham Biosciences China, distributor of Biacore technology in China, will build upon the already large body of interaction analysis research undertaken and accelerate the research towards identifying therapeutic agents to vaccinate against or treat those infected.

Scientists at the Drug Discovery Design Center (DDDC) of SIMM, headed by Professor Jiang Hualiang have investigated protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions using the Biacore 3000 to verify the key route by which the SARS virus infects human cells. As a result, from the potentially active compounds, the group has now found one effective compound, which inhibits the virus in vivo.

Biacore's SPR technology is assisting SIMM in studying initial binding events prior to entry into the cell, through studies on viral replication, focused on protein-DNA interactions and applied research related to vaccine development and drug discovery, according to Clive Seymour, vp and head of Biacore's life science research business unit.

The collaborative agreement includes the use of Biacore 3000 and Biacore S51 systems and will provide the scientists at SIMM with increased sensitivity and throughput in screening for further effective small molecule compounds against the virus. "Biacore's SPR technology provides a rapid and reliable means to attain accurate information on the analysis of molecular interactions associated with every aspect of this virus' life cycle,' said Professor Jiang Hualing.