University spin-out promises early diagnosis
A NEW technique developed by a Leeds University spin-out to diagnose diseases at their earliest stage is being hailed as a big leap forward.
Aptuscan was founded following research carried out by Dr Paul Ko Ferrigno from the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine.
Dr Ko Ferrigno, who is one of 65 enterprise fellows sponsored by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, is the first in the latest round of fellows to turn his research into a company.
His research focuses on mimicking the protein molecules or antibodies that the body releases when it recognises a disease is present but using a much simpler molecule and an even simpler process.
Although creating artificial antibodies is not new as a technique for treating disease using them to diagnose such a wide range of diseases is entirely new.
However, it may take several years to make an artificial antibody against the body’s 25,000 proteins – each of which can be made in multiple forms and is two thousand million times smaller than a pin head.
Dr Ko Ferrigno said: “The key to successful treatment of a disease is early diagnosis – drugs are much more effective when they are used at an early stage – so I have been looking at how I can copy the body’s own mechanism for identifying disease, which we know to be the production of antibodies.
“The diagnostic industry has relied upon antibodies for a long time now, but there are many, many examples of this technology failing to meet clinical standards. What we now have is a way to copy the body’s defence mechanism in a test tube, and so make artificial probes that can be used instead of antibodies for diagnosis.”
He said that the fellowship had been instrumental in guiding his decision to work with the university and set up a company rather than wait for a company to pick up the research.
“The fellowship has taught me how to switch off my research brain and engage a commercial one – with the mentoring support and business planning expertise provided by the enterprise fellowship scheme,” he continued.
The Yorkshire Forward Enterprise Fellowships are managed by YTKO Consulting and are designed to encourage the commercialisation of the region’s cutting edge research and innovation.
As well as the enterprise fellowship Aptuscan is also being supported by MRC Technology – the commercial arm of the Medical Research Council – and IP Group, a company who work closely with Leeds University to invest in and commercialise novel technologies.
