Artificial cell membranes marketed that can speed up drug discovery

Cells communicate with each other and exchange vital molecules through their 'skin' or membranes, facilitated by specific proteins, or membrane proteins. Disruption of the communication pattern can lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and Parkinson's Disease. Understanding the working of membrane proteins is critical in creating medicines to combat diseases. ACM Biolabs has adapted natural cellular processes to invent a simple yet functional system, where synthetic materials are engineered to host membrane proteins. These include some membrane proteins that cannot currently be produced in a stable form using today's cell-based technology, i.e. the so-called 'hard targets'.

"Our proprietary artificial cell membrane technology is a unique combination of engineered polymer materials and biology that gives pharmaceutical companies a faster, cheaper alternative to current drug discovery methods," said Dr Madhavan Nallani, a former IMRE scientist who is the founder and now the Director of ACM Biolabs, which produces these patented artificial cell membranes with customized membrane proteins.

"Our aim is to lower the entry barrier for more companies and labs to screen novel drugs, or test existing drugs on novel targets," added Dr Nallani. "ACM Biolabs believes that our product can reduce the risk from some of the more daunting phases in the drug discovery process and allows the creation of a new generation of innovative drugs."

"The commercialization of this technology is an excellent example of A*STAR's plan to push lab-based research into the marketplace," said Prof Andy Hor, Executive Director of IMRE. "The success of this spin-off is also part of our efforts to create a generation of scientist-entrepreneurs that can help lead Singapore's charge in a future knowledge-based economy."