Integral Molecular Awarded $9.1 Million Contract from NIAID to Map Epitopes on Viral Pathogens using Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping Technology

PHILADELPHIA--(Business Wire)--
Integral Molecular, Inc. has been selected to receive a five year, $9.1 million
contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID),
part of the National Institutes of Health, to elucidate novel B cell epitopes on
the surface of viral pathogens. Integral Molecular`s Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping
technology will be used to identify both linear and conformational epitopes on
viral envelope proteins. By helping to define the full range of immunodominant
structures on viral pathogens, Shotgun Mutagenesis will facilitate the design
and development of improved vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. This
is the second NIH award recently received by Integral Molecular for epitope
mapping services.

"Understanding the full range of viral epitopes targeted by the human immune
system is vital to designing better viral vaccines," said Dr. Benjamin Doranz,
President of Integral Molecular. "This project will result in hundreds of new
human antibodies against important viral proteins, high resolution epitope maps
describing how these antibodies bind to their targets, and structural
information about how these viral proteins function."

Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping analyzes hundreds to thousands of variants of a
target protein, each variant containing a unique amino acid substitution, to
rapidly identify the binding residues that form antibody epitopes. This
technology is well suited for epitope mapping viral envelope proteins, which
usually form complex oligomeric structures and contain post-translational
modifications that require expression within mammalian cells to retain their
native conformation. Because Shotgun Mutagenesis maps functional proteins
directly within living human cells, target proteins do not require purification
or extraction from their native environment.

About Integral Molecular

Integral Molecular is a biotechnology company committed to providing innovative
solutions for research and drug discovery applications involving membrane
proteins. Integral Molecular was founded in 2001 and is located at the
University City Science Center Research Park in Philadelphia. The company
provides membrane protein-related products that help meet the scientific needs
of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic laboratories. Integral Molecular
offers Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping services on a fee-for service basis to the
research community. More information about Shotgun Mutagenesis Mapping
technology and Integral Molecular can be found at: www.integralmolecular.com.

Integral Molecular, Inc.
Benjamin Doranz, 215-966-6061
info@integralmolecular.com

www.integralmolecular.com

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