Research for Glycan Analytical Tool Could Have Major Impact on Drug Discovery and Biopharmaceutical and Diagnostic Industries

DENVER–ADA Technologies, Inc. received a $1.15 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue research into the development of a low-cost glycan analytical tool that is capable of rapidly and accurately identifying the functional properties of carbohydrates (also known as glycans or sugars).

The three-year Phase 2 research, which leverages ADA’s expertise in miniaturized biochip technology, focuses on the development of an advanced carbohydrate microarray platform suitable for performing rapid analysis of the carbohydrate-protein interactions that are known to be cancer biomarkers. Currently there is no cost-effective tool available for rapid screening and investigation of the interactions between carbohydrates and proteins.

According to Xichun Zhou, Ph.D., ADA senior research scientist and principal investigator, “Development of an inexpensive glycan analytical tool that has a high degree of accuracy could have major impact on drug discovery and the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as the diagnostic industry. Carbohydrates are potential targets for anti-cancer immunotherapy, since they are exposed at the surface of tumor cells, but hidden on normal cells. Many bacteria and other pathogens are also distinguished by carbohydrates, making them good targets for vaccines.”

Glycoscience, an emerging field in modern biotechnology, includes the study of mono-, di- and poly-saccharides, their interactions with proteins and lipids, and their collective role at the cellular and molecular level. In less than a decade, glycosciences has taken center stage in novel approaches to healthcare.

ADA Technologies, Inc.

ADA Technologies, Inc. is a research, development, and commercialization company that specializes in creating and converting innovative technologies to commercial successes. The firm is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, with offices on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Blacksburg, VA. ADA has received more than 130 research grants totaling more than $40 million. ADA has received numerous honors, including: 2006 Tibbetts Award, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Colorado Technology Fast 50, 2006 & 2007 Best Companies to Work For in Colorado and Colorado’s Top Technology Company 2005. For more information, please visit www.adatech.com or call 303-792-5615.