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'''Biolex Therapeutics''' is a [[biotechnology]] firm in the [[Research Triangle Park|Research Triangle of North Carolina]].  The company focuses on formation of difficult to synthesize proteins in ''[[Lemna]]'', a [[duckweed]].<ref>Goodman Peter S. ''In N.C., A Second Industrial Revolution: Biotech Surge Shows Manufacturing Still Key to U.S. Economy [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/02/AR2007090201189.html]'' Washington Post Monday, September 3, 2007</ref>  The duckweeds are a family of small aquatic plants that can be grown in sterile culture.  Biolex has developed [[recombinant DNA]] technology for efficiently producing [[pharmaceutical]] proteins in Lemna.<ref>John R. Gasdaska, David Spencer and Lynn Dickey "Advantages of Therapeutic Protein Production in the Aquatic Plant Lemna" BioProcessing Journal, Mar/Apr 2003.</ref>  Therapeutic [[glycosylate]]d proteins, such as [[monoclonal antibodies]], have been produced by the Lemna system at Biolex.<ref>Cox KM et al.  Glycan optimization of a human monoclonal antibody in the aquatic plant Lemna minor.   Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Dec;24(12):1591-7.</ref>

Biolex acquired Epicyte Pharmaceutical Inc. on [[May 6]], [[2004]], and acquired LemnaGene SA of Lyon, France in 2005.<ref>[http://www.lemnagene.com/communication/biolex_acquires_lemnagene_28_july_2005_for_immediate_release.pdf Biolex Therapeutics Acquires Lemnagene S.A.]</ref> Biolex is a privately held company backed by [[Quaker BioVentures]], [[Trelys|The Trelys Funds]], and [[Polaris Venture Partners]].  The term "[[plantibody]]" is trademarked by Biolex.

==References==
* [http://www.biolex.com Official site] 
* [http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed-genes.htm#GeneticEngineering Background information on production of therapeutic proteins in 'Lemna']

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[[Category:Biotechnology companies]]
[[Category:Pharmaceutical companies]]

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