Cytosolic Enrichment Technology for Protein Therapeutics
Engineering therapeutic proteins (antibodies, intrabodies, nanobodies, etc.) for cytosolic delivery at nanomolar extracellular concentrations using our patented Intracellular Drug Delivery Technology (IDDT).
Viabrane is a dynamic spin-off venture based in Szeged, Hungary, established through a collaboration between the University of Szeged, Vespucci Partners VC, and private investors, including technology experts.
The University of Szeged, ranked among the top 10% of universities globally, has a rich history of excellence, including contributing Nobel Prize winners to the scientific community.
There is a pressing need for methods delivering therapeutic macromolecules to their intracellular targets at clinically relevant concentrations without endosomal entrapment.
We discovered a non-viral, Cytosolic Enrichment pPlatform (CEP) that delivers cargoes (proteins, peptides and other macromolecules) into the cytosol. Our proprietary, patent-pending technology Ituses a short peptide, the WYKYW carrier-tag, that binds ganglioside-rich membrane domains of human cells with nanomolar affinity, enabling uptake through lipid raft-associated endocytic pathway. WYKYW-tagged cargoes are efficiently released from the endocytic compartments without endosomal rupture and toxicity. At low-nanomolar extracellular cargo concentrations, the cytosolic concentrations can reach pharmacologically relevant levels. The modular system allows for independent cargo development and screening, with translational fusion available at later stages
T.A. Martinek et al. Advanced Science 2020, 7, 1902621.
T.A. Martinek et al. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 580.
Unique Solution
VIABRANE develops a Key Enabling Technology for Intracellular Application of Protein Therapeutics
Advantages of the technology
- The pentapeptide tag carrier is a short nanomolar endocytosis-triggering signal with minimal interference with the cargo.
- The tag breaks the carrier-cargo co-optimization paradigm, it internalized various antibodies and other proteins efficiently.
- Low cost and accelerated screening.
- The modular system allows for independent cargo development and screening, with translational fusion available at later stages.
Leadership
- Chemist
- PhD in Pharma Sciences
- 20 yrs drug research, protein science and protein mimetics experience
- expert in intracellular delivery of proteins
He obtained his MSc in Chemistry from the University of Szeged, Hungary in 1996. Afterwards he earned his PhD degree at the same university in 2001 under the supervision of Prof. Ferenc Fülöp and with the guidance of Dr. Frank G. Riddell at the University of St. Andrews, UK.
He started his independent career in peptidic foldamers, focusing on their controlled folding and protein mimicry. He is a full professor and the head of the Department of Medical Chemistry at Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Hungary. He is active in biomimetic self-organizing systems and their applications in drug discovery: endocytotic cell penetration, antimicrobial foldamers, modulation of protein-protein interactions, and light-fueled peptidic replicators. He and his research group discovered a short peptidic tag that binds to the mammalian cell’s lipid rafts and, thereby, induces controlled entrapment-free endocytosis to the cytosol. This method can deliver therapeutic antibodies to the cytosol at low nanomolar extracellular concentrations.
- Chemist
- PhD in Pharma Sciences
- 20 years drug research, protein science and protein mimetics experience
- expert in intracellular delivery of proteins
She obtained her MSc in Chemistry from the University of Szeged, Hungary in 2001. Afterwards he earned her PhD degree at the same university in 2006 under the supervision of Prof. Ferenc Fülöp and with the guidance of Dr. Tamás Martinek.
She started her postdoc career in protein-ligand interaction, focusing on their drug development. She is an associate professor and the leader of the NMR Laboratory at Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Hungary. She is specializing in protein-ligand interactions, the development of intracellular transport systems, and the design of bioactive conjugates. She is a co-inventor of a short peptidic tag that binds to the mammalian cell’s lipid rafts and, thereby, induces controlled entrapment-free endocytosis to the cytosol.
Scientific Advisory Board
- Doctor of Medicine, GMC registered in UK
- Medical & scientific affairs, clinical development, international R&D collaborations
- Over 25 years in multinational pharmaceutical and biotech industry
Dr. Turgonyi is Chair of Scientific Advisory Board of Viabrane. She is a senior pharmaceutical physician and leader with a wealth of experience in medical affairs, clinical development, R&D partnership and collaborations, national health and research policy shaping, evidence generation, including global phase II-III studies. She has developed global medical and integrated evidence-strategies for several blockbusters, and worked with top global medical experts and research institutions to co-create innovative health solutions in multiple therapeutic areas.
Dr Turgonyi has held positions at AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sanofi Aventis and biotech start ups at global, regional and local levels in UAE/Gulf Countries Cluster, UK, Ireland, Poland and Hungary.
She obtained her Medical Doctorate in General Medicine and has a Diploma in Clinical Research and is a registered physician with the General Medical Council in the United Kingdom.
- Doctor of Medicine
- Board certified in internal medicine
- 25 years in multinational
CRO, SMO businesses. CEO/owner of CROs and healthcare start ups
He received his medical degree from the Semmelweis Medical University in 1993 and worked for 6 years as a physician and researcher at the National Institute of Cardiology in Budapest, where he obtained his specialist degree in internal medicine. He worked as a research fellow at the University of Parma in 1996. From 1998, he was the founder and for more than 10 years the director of Goodwill Research Ltd., which was mainly engaged in pharmacological and clinical trials. He was the co-founder and later managing director of the Svábhegyi Paediatric Institute, which was reorganized in 2007 and integrated into Doktor24 Medicina Zrt. in 2020. In 2023, as CEO, he restructured Auxiliis Pharma Ltd., which has been involved in clinical research for decades and is currently engaged in biomarker research. Since 2022, he has been leading the Healthcare Innovation and IT section of the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers, and is a member of the Healthcare Section’s Board.
Management Consultant
- Successful enterpreneur
- 25+ years experience in building companies
With over 25 years of experience in the leadership of self-owned business ventures and investments in four continents (Europe, Australia, Asia, North America) behind his back, he can confidently say he found his calling.
Taking part in overseeing new, innovative developments in the Real estate, IT, Biotech and Financial industries has been a true passion for him over the years.
He is supporting the establishment of Viabrane Inc. leveraging on his outstanding business and networking capabilities.
Our proprietary, patent-pending Cytosolic Enrichment Platform (CEP) enables delivery of cargoes (proteins, peptides and other macromolecules) into the cytosol. Patents for the tag-triggered cytosolic delivery of macromolecules have been filed and are the subject of pending patent applications. Our innovative research continues to seek further opportunities to secure our technology, ensuring well-protected investment.
