Genzyme to Evaluate to-BBB’s Technology for Delivering Biologics to the Brain

Genzyme and Netherlands-based to-BBB established a research collaboration to evaluate the use of the latter’s G-Technology™ to transport biologics against neurodegenerative diseases across the blood brain barrier (BBB).

G-Technology has been developed to transport different classes of drugs directly across this barrier using glutathione-coated liposomes. The company’s research partnership with Genzyme follows on from a similar agreement with MedImmune, signed in September.
Liposomal formulation allows the encapsulation of a wide range of compounds and biological molecules without changing their function and protecting them against degradation and immune responses, according to to-BBB. Coating liposomes with PEG further ensures a prolonged circulation time in plasma. Conjugation of glutathione to the tips of the PEG molecules targets the liposomes toward the active glutathione transporters on the blood-brain barrier, the firm explains.