The Dow Chemical Company and Sunol Molecular Corp have signed a collaborative research agreement to produce a therapeutic protein in transgenic plants and compare its properties with those of the same antibody produced in mammalian cell culture.

Under the agreement, Dow will express in plants an anti-tissue factor antibody developed by Sunol for treatment of multiple types of cancer. The objective of the collaborative research agreement is to compare and contrast the efficacy of the Sunol antibody as produced through plant technology and mammalian cell technology. The research will specifically look at glycosylation, in vivo testing, and effector function. Knowledge gained from the work is expected to demonstrate the utility of plant production for injectable biopharmaceuticals. The agreement includes an option for Dow and Dow AgroSciences to evaluate the antibody as a cancer treatment for companion animals. No financial details are being released.

"Dow Plant Biopharmaceuticals is pleased to be working with a biotechnology company of the scientific caliber of Sunol Molecular," said Carolyn Fritz, Global Business Director for Dow Industrial Biotechnology. "We believe Sunol's antibody is an excellent candidate to demonstrate the efficacy of plant-produced antibodies."