G2 is a privately funded biotechnology company developing and commercialising novel antibody based therapies in inflammation and cancer. The company is based at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, one of the largest medical research institutes in Australia, and which gives the company access to its world class facilities and research staff.

The company has assembled an experienced team of scientists with demonstrated capabilities in target discovery and validation, and antibody discovery, humanisation and preclinical development. G2's scientists have developed a unique target discovery capability, comparable to that of significantly larger companies.

G2 uses novel techniques to raise antibodies to the entire cell surface target in its in-vivo configuration, rather than the linear peptide sequence, as is usually done. This technique enables G2 to raise more potent antibodies, often to targets which cannot otherwise be successfully targeted. The company's staff have substantial protein development experience, and have humanised several antibody leads.

To advance its discoveries, G2 offers access to its capabilities through funded target and therapy discovery collaborations, and is also developing its own programmes. G2's humanised antibody therapeutic for inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis is in clinical development.

CAPABILITIES

Target Discovery G2's founding scientist is a leading expert in the biology of inflammation and has built a substantial research platform including: mRNA expression screening; tissue microarrays; bioinformatics; cell culture, protein expression and purification, and a range of animal models. This has enabled G2's scientists to develop a sophisticated target discovery and validation capability, comparable with the genomics capabilities of much larger companies. A database of the RNA expression profile of all inflammatory leukocytes has been assembled to enable G2 to more quickly identify and validate drug targets.

Therapy discovery and validation Once targets have been identified, G2 uses a novel technique to raise antibodies to the whole protein target in its in-vivo configuration, rather than the standard approach of raising antibodies to linear peptide sequences. Using this technique, G2 is able to raise better antibodies to more targets than others, particularly to chemokine receptor targets which have proven difficult to inhibit using conventional approaches. Suitable therapeutic candidates are identified using in-vitro techniques, and then validated in an appropriate animal model. The company has established a broad range of animal models, and its staff has significant experience in assessing therapeutic candidates in these models.

Therapeutic development G2 has an established cell culture and protein production, purification and characterisation facility, and has successfully humanised several different antibodies. The company is building its capabilities in preclinical and clinical areas through collaborations and contracts.