A Star in the Making, page-13

One of the key messages in older presentations by Phylogica was that nature had already solved the problem of cell entry. Phylomer libraries derive from multiple structural families including viruses and bacteria.

The role played by nature refers in large part to the means by which pathogenic viruses utilise receptor mediated endocytosis to gain cell entry. The next generation phylomer libraries were enriched with bacterial virulence factors specialised for cell invasion. Who can forget BEN_1312.

The January 2017 presentation refers to the FPP delivery platform which utilises the Endosomal Escape Trap to direct cargoes into endosomes via receptor mediated endocytosis.

It was then of some interest to read about the research collaboration between A*Star and Merck. The aim of the two year collaboration was to improve cellular delivery of macrocyclic peptides. The press release provides an overview of how to achieve the objective including the exploration of the use of smart delivery systems that leverage natural cell entry mechanisms.

Phylogica doesn't have a monopoly on leveraging nature in the design of smart delivery systems but it is telling that the company has entered into a collaboration with Professor Sir David Lane.