Peptide offers significant therapeutic potential to researchers investigating ubiquitin-related neurodegenerative disorders

R&D BioProducts, a company providing research grade, patented peptide products to investigators for therapeutic research, announced today that it has developed the innovative TRAF-6 peptide in collaboration with American Peptide Company, Sunnyvale, CA. The TRAF-6 peptide, developed by Dr. Marie Wooten of Auburn University, has the potential to offer broad therapeutic applications to the scientific community investigating treatments for ubiquitin-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Huntingdon’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s.

After receiving exclusive licensing rights for the research grade material of the TRAF-6 peptide from the patent holder, Auburn University, Auburn, Al, R&D BioProducts engaged American Peptide Company as the sole partner to manufacture and sell this unique product.

The TRAF-6 peptide is a fragment of the p62 protein, and mimics the binding site of the p62 protein. By virtue of not being a full-length p62 molecule, the fragment helps tie up available TRAF-6 enzymes, preventing them from interacting with the p62 molecules, and reducing the formation of ubiquitin scaffolding. This is a type of molecular inhibition, and is the basis for many drug designs.

Ron Donoho, Director of R&D BioProducts, commented: "We all understand the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases and the scientific community is working hard to develop successful therapies. I am pleased with the result of our TRAF-6 peptide project, which comes with the tremendous prospect of offering relief to people who are suffering.”

Donoho adds,” The project could not have come to fruition without the support of American Peptide Company, with expertise in both research grade and GMP production. The company’s capabilities and global presence are critical assets in the downstream development of our products, and promotes our customers’ interests.”

R&D BioProducts utilized American Peptide Company’s Total Peptide Management™ program for the development of TRAF-6 peptide. Through the program, the two companies were able to quickly establish common goals, and begin the synthesis of the TRAF-6 sequences. “Providing rapid peptide synthesis and purification in a short time period, the program enabled us to realize excellent quality test results,” says Donoho.

Exceeding conventional requirements, the Total Peptide Management™ program also mandates the use GMP practices in non-GMP applications in the early phases of drug development. This ensures that when a successful TRAF-6-based therapy is developed, scale-up from the clinical phase to full manufacturing and production is efficient.

Takahiro Ogata, President & COO of American Peptide Company said: “We are happy to be part of the development of the TRAF-6 peptide as it aligns with our broader company mission to provide Total Peptide Management solutions to drug researchers and developers pioneering solutions for improving human life.”

Following the success of the TRAF-6 project, R&D BioProducts and American Peptide Company plan to work closely on a variety of upcoming peptide development projects.