SynCo Bio Partners (SynCo) has entered into a strategic partnership with Versartis to produce Versartis’ lead drug candidate – VRS-859.
Under the agreement, SynCo will further develop the Versartis existing production process for VRS-859 and optimize the manufacturing process to increase yields for the forthcoming cGMP production.
VRS-859 is a novel GLP-1 analog for monthly dosing to treat type 2 diabetes. VRS-859 is a recombinant fusion protein containing exenatide and XTEN, a novel hydrophilic amino acid sequence that prolongs the half life of proteins and peptides.
Jeffrey Cleland, founder and CEO of Versartis, said: We expect SynCo to ensure our goal of initiating Phase 1 clinical trials for VRS-859 in the first half of 2010. SynCo will also become our preferred manufacturing partner for future Versartis products based on the XTEN technology, which have similar production processes.