Arestat™ technology

The Arestat™ stabilisation technology is inspired by new insights into the ways in which proteins are degraded while they are either dissolved in water or in a dried state.

How the technology works

Studies indicate that water dissociation products are damaging to proteins during either long-term storage or gamma radiation.

Arecor’s technology works through using harmless substances that protect the dissolved protein when it is in an aqueous solution. Under particular and defined conditions, these protecting substances act as the interface, or mediator, between key, vulnerable groups on the protein surface and energetic dissociation products of water.

Bespoke stabilisation

Arecor can determine the characteristics of excipients required for a particular protein, based upon the sequence and tertiary structure of the protein. The excipients hold the protein in a stable state within an aqueous solution.

Excipients - generally regarded as safe (GRAS)

The panel of excipients used have a 'generally regarded as safe' (GRAS) designation. Therefore, the Arestat™ technology will involve only a new formulation using GRAS excipients. These can be widely applied and incorporated into standard manufacturing practice and so should not require time-consuming additional regulatory approval.

Drying after stabilisation in the aqueous phase

Once the protein has been stabilised in the aqueous state, the protein can then be dried if required. Studies have shown that stabilised proteins retain significantly improved stability in the dry state even when the bulk water has been removed.

Last updated: 31 October 2007