Minomic Pty Ltd 

Overview

Minomic is a leading biomarker discovery company. We provide pharmacoproteomics services to industry and research institutes. We have proprietary technology to prefractionate complex mixtures such as serum, plasma, urine, tears, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid. We also use proprietary protein solubilisation reagents to help clients see more proteins and peptides per sample. Our focus is in developing novel targets and biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases including diabetes and cancer. Our technology platform utilises 2D gels, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Additionally, our expertise in proteomic analysis of tears and urine positions us at the forefront of non-invasive diagnostic technology.

Business Opportunities (i.e Partner, Joint Venture, Distributor, Agent, End User)

The USA-based Waters Corporation is Minomic’s foundation partner, providing access to leading edge mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatography solutions for protein identification and analysis. In addition to Waters, Minomic has an established commercial relationship with Perkin Elmer, providing proteomic technology. Minomic has recently completed a large project with the Hong Kong-based CK Life Science to investigate a novel anti-cancer compound. This project includes collaborative alliances with the Clinical Oncology Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. The Vision Cooperative Research Centre has been a long standing alliance partner – providing access to technology and clinical samples for Minomic’s tear-based discoveries. More recently the Endocrinology Department, Prince of Wales Hospital and the Oncology Department at St George Hospital have also been involved in giving access to clinical samples from patients.

Technology/Products and Services Description

Pharmacoproteomics– The MiNavigator protein separation technology has been used by companies to examine drug effects in vitro and in vivo. A recent example of this work has been a research program in prostate and bladder cancer. This program has identified a number of protein biomarkers that are modulated by treatment with an anti-cancer compound derived from Chinese herbal medicine. This collaboration has assisted our customers with the creation of new IP which remains the clients’ property as part for our working agreement.

Prostate and bladder cancer– A monoclonal antibody to prostate cancer has been developed and is currently being developed as a diagnostic. The antibody also has proven imaging and therapeutic applications for which we are seeking partners for global sales, marketing and possible manufacturing and distribution beginning in 2008.
 
Diabetes - The discovery of protein biomarkers for type 2 diabetes has led to the development of a second diagnostic kit. A number of markers for secondary disease such as retinopathy are also being developed. Additionally Minomic is actively using a peptide based approach to discovery well as looking at early markers of cardiac damage with the University of Sydney.

Competitive Advantages

Minomic has built its technical strengths based on contract proteomic services, collaborative research ventures and in-house discovery projects. This has allowed the company to attract leaders in the field of protein analysis and to create a pipeline of novel biomarker discoveries. The company’s laboratory is the home of the MiNavigator technology platform for prefractionation, separation and identification of proteins.