Description:

“Genetically Encoded Polymers – Construction of Multifunctional Therapeutics without Sacrificing Homogeneity”

Volker Schellenberger
President and CEO
Amunix Operating Inc

A joint event of the Golden Gate Polymer Forum and the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the American Chemical Society

Abstract

Historically, pharmaceuticals had very simple designs. Most drugs would bind to a single receptor to turn in on, off, or to block binding of its natural ligand. Our rapidly expanding knowledge of human physiology at the molecular level allows us to dream of much more complex functions for a pharmaceutical. We may want it to interact with multiple receptors, differentiate between diseased and healthy tissues, or use certain physiological cues to turn its activity on or turn off. We now have the means to rapidly design binding domains that interact with receptors. Amunix has been working on protein polymers (called XTEN®) that allow us to assemble multiple such domains into a single molecule with precise control of spacing between domains. We can insert weak links that break upon certain physiological events (a bleeding event) or upon entering into a particular tissue (tumor, inflamed tissue) and we can modify the size of the pharmaceutical, which affects its ability to penetrate into various tissues. This seminar will describe the concept of protein polymers as well as our rapidly expanding toolbox that allows us to design increasingly complex molecules while maintaining perfect homogeneity.

Speaker Background

Volker Schellenberger is President and CEO of Amunix Operating Inc, which he co-founded with Willem Pim Stemmer in 2006. He initially served as Amunix’ Chief Scientific Officer and is the lead inventor of the company’s XTEN technology. Volker has over 20 years of industry experience in protein engineering and drug discovery. Prior to co-founding Amunix he served as head of Genencor’s protein engineering department.
Volker received his Ph.D. from Leipzig University (Germany) in 1986. After postdoctoral work at the Institute for Protein Research in Pushchino (Russia), the University of Göttingen. and with Bill Rutter at the University of California, San Francisco he joined Genencor in 1994. Volker is author of over 40 scientific papers and inventor of more than 70 issued or pending patent applications. He is a recipient of the Karl Lohmann prize of the German Society of Biochemists.

Date:

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Location:

Michael’s at Shoreline
2960 N Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA

Map

Timing:

6 PM social hour
7 PM dinner
8 PM lecture

Cost:

	Employed/postdoc	Student/unemployed/retired
Early Registration	$30	$15
Registration	$35	$20
Walk-in (not guaranteed)	$40	$25

Lecture-only is free.

 

Payment:

We accept cash or checks at the door, or online payment via credit card. No-shows are responsible for full payment of registration fee.

Registration:

Please register below or contact:

Len Radzilowski
email: lradzilo@te.com
phone: 650-361-3264

Deadline for registration:

11:59PM, Monday, June 5 for early registration discount.
5:00PM, Monday, June 12 for regular registration.

Dinner Selection:

Seafood - Broiled salmon with lemon beurre blanc
Chicken - Chicken florentine
Vegetarian - Mushroom crepes

You should receive confirmation of your registration; if not, please contact us again.