Combating malaria is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals
described in the United Nations Millennium Declaration signed by all UN
members at the year 2000. A key intervention to control malaria is
prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination
therapies. Artemisinin is a natural compound from
Artemisia annua
(sweet wormwood) plants, but low-cost artemisinin-based drugs are
lacking because of the high cost of obtaining the natural or chemically
synthesized drug. Despite extensive efforts invested in the last decade
in metabolic engineering of the drug in both microbial and heterologous
plant systems, production of artemisinin itself was never achieved.
Now, Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the University of
Jerusalem, introduces a novel method allowing artemisinin production in
a heterologous (that is, other than
A. annua) plant system, such
as tobacco. The method was developed by Professor Alexander Vainstein
from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at
the Hebrew University, and sponsored by a fellowship of Mr. Isaac Kaye.
It was published under the title
Generation
of the Potent Anti-Malarial Drug Artemisinin in Tobacco
in the
latest issue of the prestigious publication Nature Biotechnology.
Professor Vainstein and his graduate student Mr. Moran Farhi have
developed genetically engineered tobacco plants carrying genes encoding
the entire biochemical pathway necessary for producing artemisinin. In
light of tobacco’s high biomass and rapid growth, this invention will
enable a cheap production of large quantities of the drug, paving the
way for the development of a sustainable plant-based platform for the
commercial production of an anti-malarial drug. The invention is
patented by Yissum, which is now seeking a partner for its further
development.
Yaacov Michlin, CEO of Yissum said, "Professor Vainstein's technology
provides, for the first time, the opportunity for manufacturing
affordable artemisinin by using tobacco plants. We hope that this
invention will eventually help control this prevalent disease, for the
benefit of many millions of people around the globe, and in particular
in the developing world."
About Malaria
Malaria is caused by a parasite called
Plasmodium, which is transmitted via mosquitoes. Symptoms of malaria
include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and
15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly
become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs.
Over 3 billion people are at risk of malaria. Every year, this leads to
about 250 million malaria cases and nearly one million deaths. People
living in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable.
Malaria is especially a serious problem in Africa, where 20% of
childhood deaths are due to the effects of the disease and every 30
seconds a child dies from malaria.
About Yissum
Yissum Research Development Company of the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd. was founded in 1964 to protect and
commercialize the Hebrew University’s intellectual property. Products
based on Hebrew University technologies that have been commercialized by
Yissum currently generate $2 Billion in annual sales. Ranked among the
top technology transfer companies in the world, Yissum has registered
over 7,000 patents covering 2,025 inventions; has licensed out 530
technologies and has spun out 65 companies. Yissum’s business partners
span the globe and include companies such as Novartis, Microsoft,
Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Intel, Teva and many more. For further
information please visit
www.yissum.co.il.
Copyright Business Wire 2011
