Microbial Biochemistry and Synthetic Biology
Zylacta is able to convert bacterial cell wall components into biologically active products and optimize them for medical uses using a combination of cutting-edge biosynthetic engineering, synthetic biology and complimentary semi-synthetic chemistry. In the core of the technology is a growing library of PGN-hydrolyzing enzymes capable of cleaving every chemical bond in bacterial PGN, allowing thereby production of different glycopeptides by combinations of enzymes. Zylacta has patented its technology, related compounds, and methods of their use in the US and Russia with an option to obtain patent protection in other countries.
Our scientific team is experienced in optimizing these molecules to improve selectivity, reduce toxicity, improving ADME profile, altering route of administration and improving potency. This approach has been in use by Zylacta for a number of years, and has helped to select current lead drug candidates ZL016 and ZL056, which are capable of halting, and even reversing the progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and cancer. ZL015 and Zl056 interact with the NOD2 receptor and serve as suppressors of cell cytotoxicity caused by the action of major signaling factors NF-κB, TNF-α, and the FAS antigen. They also interact with key proteins of innate immunity that regulate processing of pro-inflammatory cytokines.