Partnership to develop MIPs

Collaboration between MIP Technologies AB and sanofi-aventis has been announced, with the aim of developing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the analysis of pharmacologically active peptides from plasma samples. The use of MIPs for selective recognition of peptides and proteins is an area that the companies hope will open up the technology to numerous applications in the diagnostic, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.

"We are looking to move into the development of peptide-selective MIPs, which represents a valuable piece of the separations market," comments Dr Anthony Rees, CEO at MIP Technologies. "The benefit of being able to address a large, new global market for molecularly imprinted polymers represents a significant commercial opportunity."

Sanofi-aventis will have exclusive use of the polymer in the analysis of proprietary peptide candidates, while MIP Technologies will retain the rights to use the polymers for other applications. The companies also claim that the MIP material developed during the collaboration may be suitable for selective peptide purification at preparative or process scale.

For more information about this partnership please visit MIP Technologies, website at www.miptechnologies.com