Glycan makes moves to the US |  Jul 22, 2008

Glycan Bioscience, a developer of carbohydrate based drugs for respiratory diseases has made the first transition to the US this month, setting up a lab in New Hampshire in the University town of one of America’s oldest Ivy League colleges, Dartmouth College.  The town has a special connection to the first US employee (CTO Dr Warren Kett), as he spent a number of years there with VC backed Glycofi which Merck acquired for $400M in 2006.

Glycan was formed in mid 2006 to commercialise a novel method of synthesizing carbohydrates which was developed initially at Curtin University in Perth.  The approach significantly reduces the cost and complexity of making carbohydrates which is more akin to assembling a ‘Meccano set’ than the traditional multi-step expensive synthesis process used by companies such as Alchemia and Momenta.   This technology has applications in multiple disease indications but the team is focusing on the respiratory market initially.

The US move means that the chemistry and corporate functions of the company will be established in New Hampshire, while the biology function will remain in Perth under the close supervision of Associate Professor Deidre Coombe.  Lab space and offices have already been leased near Dartmouth and equipment and the first chemistry staff sourced from around the US.  Warren has even been spotted driving a truck around the tri-State area collecting equipment with his loyal wife and daughter in tow!

The next focus for the company will be bedding down the corporate management and raising a next round of capital, as the synthesis of compounds for clinical development gets into full swing in the coming months.  The very exciting animal trial data on the compounds made for Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) will form the basis of a pre-clinical plan which has been reviewed for fast regulatory approval.

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