Capabilities

ScinoPharm Taiwan is also involved in research activities related to new drug discovery and the traditional Chinese medicine genome project. ScinoPharm Taiwan also operates a custom oligonucleotide business which provides the services of two high-throughput oligo synthesizers to our customers through distributors.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Genome Project
In collaboration with Taiwan Genome Sciences, and Yang Ming University, the project aims to establish chemical genomic platforms using traditional Chinese medicine as probes to identify novel molecules for therapeutic use.

High-throughput Custom Synthesis of Oligonucleotides
ScinoPharm Taiwan now operates two (2) fully automated high-throughput 96-well synthesizers to provide custom oligonucleotides services to gene chip companies and research institutions throughout Taiwan.

Core Biopharmaceutical Expertise
Through successful development of a number of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies, we have established the following core expertise and capabilities:

• Gene cloning and expression: We have in-house capability for synthesizing synthetic genes in an efficient manner and have vast experiences developing products using various expression systems, including E. coli, Pichia pastoris, CHO-dhfr, and baculovirus/insect cells. We have also established systems for selecting high producing cell lines and for adaptation to serum-free suspension culture.
• Humanized monoclonal antibodies: Our in-house oligo synthesis capability coupled with the phage-display technology has enabled us to facilitate development of chimeric, humanized or fully human monoclonal antibodies.
• Microbial fermentation and cell culture: Our laboratory has one 20 -L microbial fermentor (10-15L WV), one 5-L and two 2-L cell culture bioreactors, capable of conducting fermentation and cell culture in batch, fed-batch and continuous perfusion modes.
• Product recovery and purification: We have developed recovery and purification processes for a number of recombinant proteins derived from various host systems. We have the capability to perform various downstream unit operations, including, high speed centrifugation, high pressure homogenization for cell rupture, protein refolding, cross-flow membrane ultrafiltration and diafiltration, liquid chromatography purification and freeze drying
• Product analysis and characterization: We have established a battery of analytical methods for product analysis to insure its identity, purity and potency. Assays established include: electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, IEF & immunoblotting), N-terminal sequencing, peptide mapping, carbohydrate composition, oligosaccharide profiling, sialic acid content, HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and mass spectroscopy. Various cell based bioassays have also been developed for a number of recombinant products.

List of major equipment