Protea Biosciences, a leader in the development of new protein technology, announced has entered into a drug development partnership with Laboratoires Mayoly Spindler (Mayoly), a European pharmaceutical company based in France, that specializes in gastroenterology therapeutics.

Mayoly has succeeded in developing a recombinant Lipase (not of animal origin), an enzyme for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). EPI is a condition where there is a lack of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas that results in the inability to properly digest food and absorb nutrients.

In extensive preclinical studies, their Lipase has been shown to exhibit higher lipolytic activity than current treatments under physiopathological conditions. This enzyme is designed to improve fat absorption in pancreatic insufficient patients.

Under terms of the agreement, Protea will receive the exclusive marketing rights for the recombinant lipase biopharmaceutical for North America.

"We are pleased to form this partnership with Mayoly" stated Steve Turner, Protea's President. "We believe that proteomics technology is of increasing importance to new biopharmaceutical development, and we look forward to collaborating in the development of their recombinant lipase." Turner added,

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) can result from various pancreatic pathologies either acquired such as chronic pancreatitis, or genetically determined such as cystic fibrosis. The estimated number of patients in the United States with EPI is over 200,000, and is increasing at approximately 7% per year.

"We are delighted to be partnering with Protea for developing our new lipase biotherapeutic", stated Jean- Nicolas Vernin President of Mayoly Spindler "Extensive preclinical studies support its potential therapeutic use for the treatment of patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)." Jean-Nicolas Vernin added, "we are optimistic about the promise of this new enzyme therapy and our goal to initiate clinical trials in early 2010"

Biopharmaceuticals are the fastest growing segment of the pharmaceutical industry, and were responsible for nearly $100B in revenue in 2008, or approx one-third of the total revenue of the global pharmaceutical industry. Protea Biosciences develops and commercializes new technology that improves the recovery and analysis of proteins in biological samples.