Low-cost production of rApoA-IM for the treatment of cardiovascular disease

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Vascular diseases such as athersclerosis are the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle is thought to protect the arteries from atherosclerosis by removing excesscholesterol and other lipids from the vessel wall and delivering them to the liver for elimination. The key protein component of HDL is apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I). A naturally occurring genetic variant, named ApoA-I Milano (ApoA-IM) is highly potent in reducing atherosclerotic vascular disease. This specific function of ApoA-IM and the HDL particle has become an important therapeutic focus in the HDL-based therapies. However, production of ApoA-IM is extremely difficult and costly thus limiting its therapeutic potential. Ventria Bioscience has developed a plant-based protein expression system in rice grain that produces recombinant protein generally 25 to 1000 fold higher than other plant-based protein expression systems. We hypothesize that we can use