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Enzymatic techniques for PEGylation of biopharmaceuticals

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PEGylated Protein Drugs: Basic Science and Clinical Applications

Part of the book series: Milestones in Drug Therapy ((MDT))

Abstract

Modification of therapeutic proteins and peptides by polyethylene glycol conjugation is a well known method to improve the pharmacological properties of such drugs.

Here we describe an alternative way of PEGylation from classic chemical methods, taking advantage of enzymes able to specifically modify some amino acid side chains, in particular glycosyltransferases and transglutaminases.

A few examples are here described, in particular granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, which has been successfully PEGylated by enzymatic methods leading to a new long-lasting compound presently under evaluation in clinical studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Ker S.r.l, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico della Sardegna, 09010, Pula, Cagliari, Italy

    Mauro Sergi, Francesca Caboi, Carlo Maullu, Gaetano Orsini & Giancarlo Tonon

  2. Ablynx nv, Technologiepark 4, 9052, Zwijnaarde, Belgium

    Mauro Sergi

Authors
  1. Mauro Sergi
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  2. Francesca Caboi
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  3. Carlo Maullu
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  4. Gaetano Orsini
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  5. Giancarlo Tonon
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy

    Francesco M. Veronese

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© 2009 Birkhäuser Verlag/Switzerland

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Sergi, M., Caboi, F., Maullu, C., Orsini, G., Tonon, G. (2009). Enzymatic techniques for PEGylation of biopharmaceuticals. In: Veronese, F.M. (eds) PEGylated Protein Drugs: Basic Science and Clinical Applications. Milestones in Drug Therapy. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8679-5_5

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